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| Covid infections rise by 14% in UK and now top a million | Covid infections rise by 14% in UK and now top a million |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Covid infections in the UK are rising and have topped more than one million, according to official estimates. | Covid infections in the UK are rising and have topped more than one million, according to official estimates. |
| There has been a 14% rise in people testing positive in the week to 20 September - the biggest increase since the summer. | There has been a 14% rise in people testing positive in the week to 20 September - the biggest increase since the summer. |
| But there is no clear evidence of an autumn Covid wave starting, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | But there is no clear evidence of an autumn Covid wave starting, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
| More recent data showing a rise in hospital admissions with Covid has been called "a wake-up call". | More recent data showing a rise in hospital admissions with Covid has been called "a wake-up call". |
| Dr Thomas Waite, deputy chief medical officer for England, told BBC News that a number of new sub-variants of Omicron were circulating at low levels, and could be behind the hospital figures. | Dr Thomas Waite, deputy chief medical officer for England, told BBC News that a number of new sub-variants of Omicron were circulating at low levels, and could be behind the hospital figures. |
| Daily hospital admissions are lower than where they were for much of July, but highest among the oldest age groups. | Daily hospital admissions are lower than where they were for much of July, but highest among the oldest age groups. |
| However, six out of 10 people with Covid in hospital is being treated for something else - not Covid-19. | However, six out of 10 people with Covid in hospital is being treated for something else - not Covid-19. |
| "The fact there are people getting so seriously ill they need to go into hospital is a wake-up call to us all that Covid is still here," said Dr Waite. | "The fact there are people getting so seriously ill they need to go into hospital is a wake-up call to us all that Covid is still here," said Dr Waite. |
| Health experts have warned of a flu and Covid "twindemic" this winter, urging those who qualify to get their free jabs now. | Health experts have warned of a flu and Covid "twindemic" this winter, urging those who qualify to get their free jabs now. |
| Too early to call | Too early to call |
| Although Covid is increasing in England and Wales, the trend is uncertain in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the ONS says. | Although Covid is increasing in England and Wales, the trend is uncertain in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the ONS says. |
| Sarah Crofts, from the ONS Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: "It is too early to identify whether this is the start of a new wave of infections. We will continue to closely monitor the data." | Sarah Crofts, from the ONS Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: "It is too early to identify whether this is the start of a new wave of infections. We will continue to closely monitor the data." |
| The ONS estimates are based on thousands of random tests on people in private households across the UK, whether or not they have symptoms. | The ONS estimates are based on thousands of random tests on people in private households across the UK, whether or not they have symptoms. |
| Who can get a Covid booster this autumn? | Who can get a Covid booster this autumn? |
| Scotland's Covid levels remain highest in UK | Scotland's Covid levels remain highest in UK |
| In the UK as a whole, it is the first time estimated Covid infections have risen above one million since the end of August 2022. | In the UK as a whole, it is the first time estimated Covid infections have risen above one million since the end of August 2022. |
| In England, infections rose in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, the East of England, London, and the South East - and in all age groups. | In England, infections rose in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, the East of England, London, and the South East - and in all age groups. |
| The tests found that about one in 60 people had Covid in the UK in the week to 20 September, up from one in 70 the week before. | The tests found that about one in 60 people had Covid in the UK in the week to 20 September, up from one in 70 the week before. |
| But there were noticeable differences in trends in the four nations of the UK. | But there were noticeable differences in trends in the four nations of the UK. |
| The ONS says Covid is infecting: | The ONS says Covid is infecting: |
| one in 65 people in England (up from one in 70) | one in 65 people in England (up from one in 70) |
| one in 50 people in Wales (up from one in 75) | one in 50 people in Wales (up from one in 75) |
| one in 80 in Northern Ireland (the same as the week before) | one in 80 in Northern Ireland (the same as the week before) |
| one in 45 in Scotland (up from one in 55) | one in 45 in Scotland (up from one in 55) |
| Data is for the week ending 17 September 2022 for England, and the week ending 20 September 2022 for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. | Data is for the week ending 17 September 2022 for England, and the week ending 20 September 2022 for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. |
| The most common Covid symptom is currently a sore throat, with fever and loss of smell much rarer, according to symptoms logged by 3,000 people testing positive via the Covid symptom app. | The most common Covid symptom is currently a sore throat, with fever and loss of smell much rarer, according to symptoms logged by 3,000 people testing positive via the Covid symptom app. |
| Booster jabs against Covid, alongside flu vaccinations, are now being offered to the most vulnerable to help protection over the winter. | Booster jabs against Covid, alongside flu vaccinations, are now being offered to the most vulnerable to help protection over the winter. |
| Most people will receive a new type of vaccine - made by Pfizer or Moderna - which tackles both the original Covid virus and the recent Omicron variant, offering better protection. | Most people will receive a new type of vaccine - made by Pfizer or Moderna - which tackles both the original Covid virus and the recent Omicron variant, offering better protection. |
| 'Unpredictable' | 'Unpredictable' |
| There were 7,000 people in hospital in England with Covid last week - a 37% increase on the week before. | There were 7,000 people in hospital in England with Covid last week - a 37% increase on the week before. |
| Hospital admissions with Covid were running at around 900 per day, compared to roughly 2,000 in early July during the last surge of Omicron infections. | Hospital admissions with Covid were running at around 900 per day, compared to roughly 2,000 in early July during the last surge of Omicron infections. |
| Hospital patients and care home residents are no longer being tested for Covid in most of the UK, unless they have symptoms. | Hospital patients and care home residents are no longer being tested for Covid in most of the UK, unless they have symptoms. |
| Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency, is expecting "an unpredictable winter" which will put additional pressure on health services. | Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency, is expecting "an unpredictable winter" which will put additional pressure on health services. |
| "In the coming weeks, we expect a double threat of low immunity and widely circulating flu and Covid-19," she said. | "In the coming weeks, we expect a double threat of low immunity and widely circulating flu and Covid-19," she said. |
| "While Covid-19 and flu can be mild infections for many, we must not forget that they can cause severe illness or even death for those most vulnerable in our communities." | "While Covid-19 and flu can be mild infections for many, we must not forget that they can cause severe illness or even death for those most vulnerable in our communities." |
| She urged people who were unwell this winter to stay at home and avoid contact with vulnerable people to help prevent infections spreading. | She urged people who were unwell this winter to stay at home and avoid contact with vulnerable people to help prevent infections spreading. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Coronavirus vaccines | Coronavirus vaccines |
| Vaccination | Vaccination |
| Coronavirus testing | Coronavirus testing |
| Flu | Flu |