By Covid infections climb by a million within a week
New figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown that covid figures have risen by a million within a week.
Swab tests suggest about one in every 16 people is infected, as the Omicron variant BA.2 continues to spread.
That equates to just under 4.3 million people, up from 3.3 million the week before.
The figures for the week ending 19 March, are thought to give the most accurate reflection of what’s happening with the virus.
Rates were up in England and Wales, and Scotland reached a new high but infections have started decreasing in Northern Ireland.
The rates across the nations were:
- England: 6.4% – approximately one in 16 people
- Wales: 6.4% – approximately one in 16 people
- Northern Ireland: 5.9% – approximately one in 17 people
- Scotland: 9% approximately one in 11 people
According to experts a rise in the number of infections means the UK can expect Covid hospitalisations to rise too, although vaccines are still helping to stop many severe cases.
According to latest ONS fugures, 16,975 patients were in hospital with the virus on 23 March.
However, about half of that number will have been admitted for something else other than Covid, but tested positive.
Just over 300 of them needed an intensive care bed with a ventilator to help them breathe.
Under the governments new living with covid plan, those aged 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed can now book a spring booster jab.
A larger rollout will occur in the autumn.
Meanwhile, from 1 April in England, most people wanting to take a lateral flow test to check if they have Covid will have to buy one.
