Number of people with the virus in UK rose to 1 in 21 last week

With all restrictions in the UK lifted, the number of people infected with the Covid-19 virus rose to one in 21 last week according to figures provides by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The numbers for England suggests that around one in 20 in private households are thought to have the virus in the week to 12 March, roughly 2.7 million people. That number according to the statistics show that number infected has risen from one in 25 the previous week.

With the majority of the population inoculated, the number of infected persons experiencing chronic symptoms remains low however hospital admissions for children under the age of 15 were more than double the peak recorded in the week ending 17 January last year.

According to the ONS the biggest rise in cases was in the South East.

Professor James Naismith, Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, said the figures show evidence of a “sharp uptick” adding that: “Prevalence is increasing in every area and across age groups. Without vaccines, this would be bleak for the country.”

England’s COVID R number currently stands between at 1.1 to 1.4 – compared to last week’s estimate of 0.8 to 1.1.

Sky News Science Correspondent Thomas Moore said: “We are seeing another surge in infections… and those steep declines that we saw after the New Year have started to reverse.

“Is this going to take us back to the dark days of winter? Probably not because the virus is still susceptible to the vaccine… and when the weather warms up and the virus runs out of room, it’s likely that you’ll see once again the cases slow down.”

Although the number of people with the virus in UK rose scientists are warning of the need for vigilance with the vaccines still doing their job for now.

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