Covid cases rise by another 8% in a week as virus continues its winter resurgence

England’s Covid cases are continuing to rise, official data showed today amid fears of a triple-threat of the virus, flu and RSV slamming the struggling NHS this winter.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) experts estimate 941,700 people were infected with the virus on any given day in the week up to November 26.

It means around one in 60 people had the virus during the week. The figure was up by another 8 per cent on the week before and marked the second week in a row cases have ticked upwards. 

Infections also increased in Northern Ireland — for the first time in a month — although it is not clear if they are rising in Scotland or Wales.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) experts estimate 941,700 people were infected with Covid on any given day in the week up to November 26 in England

Infections also increased in Northern Ireland — for the first time in a month — although it is not clear if they are rising in Scotland or Wales

Covid was most prevalent  in people aged 11 to 24 in England, with 2.2 per cent of the age group infected with the virus in the week up to October 26.

London and Yorkshire and the Humber had the highest prevalence, with 1.9 per cent of residents infected during the week

But there is greater uncertainty than usual in the estimates, as well as a longer time lag in reporting the data, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is due to a low number of Covid-19 test results received by the ONS, ‘possibly’ as a result of industrial action by postal workers.

‘For all UK countries, some results may have more uncertainty and be subject to change as more test results are received for this period’, the ONS said.

Michelle Bowen, head of health surveillance dissemination and strategy at the ONS, said officials will pay close attention to cases over the coming months.

She said: ‘Infections have continued to increase across England, increased in Northern Ireland for the first time in a month and the trend in all other UK countries is now uncertain.

‘Across English regions and ages, it is a mixed picture of uncertainty and increases in infection rates, and we will continue to monitor the data carefully over the winter months.’

The ONS data show infections rose to 36,700 in Northern Ireland in the week up to November 23. It was up 27 per cent on the 28,900 recorded a week before.

Infections increased 10 per cent to 43,400 in Wales and fell 3 per cent to 88,500 in Scotland in the week up to November 24.

Covid was most prevalent in people aged 11 to 24 in England, with 2.2 per cent of the age group infected with the virus in the week up to October 26.

They were followed by those aged 25 to 49 (2.1 per cent) and over-50s (1.7 per cent).

Children aged 11 and under had the lowest infection rate, with just 1.4 per cent carrying the virus during the week. 

Regionally, London and Yorkshire and the Humber had the highest prevalence, with 1.9 per cent of residents infected during the week.

They were followed by the South East (1.8 per cent) and the East Midlands (1.7 per cent).

Around 1.6 per cent of people living in all other regions had the virus on any given day. 

Margaret Keenan, 91, became the first patient in the world to receive a vaccine on December 8, 2020, at University Hospital Coventry

Booster vaccinations have consistently slowed since early October, when they peaked at around 508,000 per day in England

Uptake has been highest in people aged 80 to 84, 81 per cent of whom were fully jabbed as of November 30. In contrast, fewer than 39 per cent of of people aged 50 to 54 have taken up the offer of a jab

The rise in cases comes after NHS bosses urged over-50s to get their Covid booster vaccines ahead of Christmas.

Health chiefs have dished out 14.4million autumn boosters in England so far but 38 per cent of eligible adults are still yet to get their fifth dose, official data shows.

NHS England’s chief executive Amanda Pritchard said ‘the best thing’ they can do to get protected against the virus and aid the struggling health service is get another jab.

Yesterday’s plea came two years to the day after Maggie Keenan became the first person in the world to get an approved coronavirus vaccine. 

Ms Pritchard said: ‘The unparalleled success of the life-saving NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme… has been the single most important reason we have been able to get back to a pre-pandemic way of life.

‘The health service is currently facing huge pressure from all angles and, while Covid may feel like a thing of the past, we continue to deal with thousands of Covid hospitalisations as well as the resurgence of flu and other respiratory viruses. 

‘Just as it was two years ago, the best thing you can do to avoid serious illness and hospitalisation is to make sure you are up to date with your Covid and flu jabs.’

The NHS is opening up hundreds of vaccination sites around the country, including pop-ups at food banks, community health centres and places of worship.

Roving buses and jab cabs will also be set up to help make boosters as accessible as possible, officials said.

Vaccines will be dished out at Oxford United’s football stadium, a German market in Birmingham and a bus in London, moving from supermarkets to mosques.