Covid rates surge by a third in a week in England

Covid infections have surged by more than a third in a week, official data shows as one in every 28 people carried the virus in England’s worst hit borough.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) statisticians estimate more than 1.5million people were infected on any given day in the week up to October 3. 

Cases jumper more than 36 per cent on the 1.1million recorded the week before. They also surged in Wales and Northern Ireland, but the trend was ‘uncertain’ in Scotland, experts said.

They were highest in most vulnerable older age groups, who will need ‘close monitoring as we move through the colder months’, they warned.

Experts fear the situation will pick up pace in the coming weeks, and experts have already called on ministers to bring back stricter rules to thwart the spread of the virus.

Some hospitals have already reimposed mask requirements for visitors and patients. Others have brought back social distancing guidelines, in scenes reminiscent of the darkest days of the pandemic.

Sarah Crofts, Deputy Director for the COVID-19 Infection Survey, said: ‘Infections have risen again across much of the United Kingdom, continuing the pattern of steady increases seen over recent weeks, although Scotland and the North East of England had uncertain trends in the latest week.

‘We have also seen another notable rise in infections amongst older age groups in England and Wales, underlining once again the need for close monitoring as we move through the colder months.’

One in every 28 people were carrying the virus on any given day in the week up to October 3 in England’s worst hit borough

Cases were highest in most vulnerable older age groups, who will need ‘close monitoring as we move through the colder months’, experts warned