This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57942217

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Covid infections around the UK continue to rise Daily Covid cases down for fourth day in UK
(32 minutes later)
Covid infections have continued to rise around much of the UK, say experts from the Office for National Statistics. Covid cases are down for the fourth consecutive day in the UK, latest daily figures show.
Swab tests in the community suggests 1.3% of the population - or one in 80 people - has the virus, up from one in 100 the week before. The UK recorded 36,389 new infections - a further drop from 46,558 logged on 20 July.
The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost every case. It is too soon to say if cases have peaked, however, given that the statistics do not capture the impact of unlocking that happened on 19 July.
Meanwhile, Public Health England warns of an increased risk of catching this variant, first identified in India, even if you have had Covid before. One expert said it will take a few weeks after relaxing restrictions to know for certain.
It says 897 cases out of 68,688 Delta infections recorded in an 11-week period from April to June were possible reinfections. Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia said: "I would caution that this may just be a temporary slowing in reports before we start to see a return to exponential growth towards the end of next week as a result of the ending of restrictions last week."
Latest daily figures for the UK recorded new 36,389 new Covid infections and a further 64 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. It is possible cases will increase again, with some measures, such as the R rate, still suggesting the epidemic is growing.
The latest estimate of R - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - is unchanged from the previous week at 1.2 to 1.4.
It means that on average, every 10 people infected with coronavirus goes on to infect between 12 and 14 others.
Mixed picture
The estimated daily growth rate shows signs of a possible slowdown, however. This week's estimate is that infections are growing at between 4% and 6% a day, down from between 4% and 7% last week.
Meanwhile, data from the Office for National Statistics based on swab tests in the community suggests 1.3% of the population - or one in 80 people - has the virus, up from one in 100 the week before.
According to the ONS figures for the week up to 17 July:According to the ONS figures for the week up to 17 July:
one in 75 people have the virus in England - compared to one in 95 the week beforeone in 75 people have the virus in England - compared to one in 95 the week before
in Scotland it is one in 80 - compared to one in 90 the week beforein Scotland it is one in 80 - compared to one in 90 the week before
in Wales it is one in 210 - compared to one in 360 previouslyin Wales it is one in 210 - compared to one in 360 previously
in Northern Ireland it is one in 170 - compared to one in 290in Northern Ireland it is one in 170 - compared to one in 290
ONS Senior Statistician Kara Steel said: "Infections continue to increase across the UK, with rates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland similar to those seen in February. The more infectious Delta variant currently accounts for almost every Covid infection in the UK.
"With infection rates rising, keeping a close eye on the data is crucial to see how the vaccination programmes are protecting many from infection and developing severe symptoms. A new report from Public Health England warns of a small but increased risk of catching this variant, first identified in India, even if you have had Covid before.
"Continuing to monitor the infection rates is crucial going forward, particularly as we have not yet seen the impact of the easing of restrictions in our data, therefore I would like to thank every single one of our participants for their continued contribution." It says 897 cases out of 68,688 Delta infections recorded in an 11-week period from April to June were possible reinfections.
The latest estimate of the R rate - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - is unchanged from the previous week at 1.2 to 1.4.
It means that on average, every 10 people infected with coronavirus goes on to infect between 12 and 14 others, so the epidemic continues to grow.
The estimated daily growth rate shows signs of a possible slowdown, however. This week's estimate is that infections are growing at between 4% and 6% a day, down from between 4% and 7% last week.
These estimates represent transmission which happened two to three weeks ago, due to a delay between people being infected, developing symptoms and needing healthcare.