The nation is bracing itself for another wave of coronavirus as cases rise in Bristol and other parts of the UK. The number of people with Covid in the UK has more than doubled since the start of June with around 2.3 million people testing positive.
The Government released its most recent figures on Friday (July 1) demonstrating a sharp increase in Covid cases in the UK for the week ending June 24 (the most recent complete data available). The estimated number of people in the community population who are infected in England was 1,829,100 - 1 in 30 people - and 2,294,300 across the UK.
Bristol City Council issued their weekly report on June 29 that stated 1 in 37 residents in Bristol are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the last week, which is 2.7 per cent of people in the city. This is below the average for England but higher for the average in the South West at 1 in 40 people.
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In the Bristol region, the latest figures show there were 10,113 new cases within the same week period in the City of Bristol. The figures are starting to creep up in North Somerset with 7,930 new cases in the week ending June 24. South Gloucestershire reported 6,979 cases within the same period indicating a steady rise.
Four people have died with Covid in Bristol in the last four weeks, which accounts for 2 per cent of all deaths in the period. A total of 62 patients are currently in hospital with Covid according to data provided by Bristol City Council.
For people in Bristol over 16 years old, 61 per cent have had a booster or third dose. 76 per cent have had a second dose while 80 per cent have had the first dose.
The Government has said these increases are likely to be caused by increases in infections compatible with Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. The percentage of people testing for Covid is increasing across the UK and has posed the question of whether testing kits should become free again.
Currently, there are no signs that this strain of the virus is more or less dangerous than its predecessors.
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