Cases of Covid-19 are rising in most parts of the UK, in the latest sign a new wave of the virus is under way. Infections have increased in England, Wales and Scotland, though Northern Ireland is continuing to see a fall.
Most age groups in England have seen a jump in prevalence of Covid-19 with rates highest among secondary school-age children. The number of hospital patients in England who have tested positive is also continuing to rise.
A total of 1.2 million people in private households in the UK were likely to have Covid-19 in the week to February 7, up 20% from one million the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is the second week in a row the UK-wide total has increased and comes after a steady drop in levels throughout January.
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A surge in the virus in the run-up to Christmas saw infections peak at three million at the end of December, though this was well below the figures seen in previous waves, including in spring 2022 when the weekly total climbed to a record 4.9 million.
Around one in 55 people in England is estimated to have the virus which is up from one in 65 the previous week. The virus is least prevalent in Northern Ireland, at one in 80 people – the lowest estimate for the nation since September 2022.
Kara Steel, ONS senior statistician, said: "This week’s data show infections have increased in all UK countries, except Northern Ireland where they have continued to decrease. Positivity increased across most age groups in England and in all English regions except the North East and the South West, where the trend was uncertain."
The ONS infection survey is the most reliable measure of the virus and is based on a sample of swab tests from households across the country. Around 2.8% of children in England between school Year 7 and 11 were likely to test positive for Covid-19 in the latest week, up from 2.4% the previous week and the highest percentage for any age group.
Infections have increased in all other groups apart from children between age two and school year 6, and 25-34 year-olds, where the trend is uncertain. Some 7,209 people were in hospital in England on February 15 who had tested positive for coronavirus, up 13% on the previous week, NHS data shows.
Patient numbers reached 9,535 over Christmas, but this was well below levels reached during early waves of the virus.
What are the main symptoms of Coronavirus?
According to the NHS, the symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) in adults can include:
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a headache
- a blocked or runny nose
- an aching body
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
The NHS advises to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms of COVID-19. Take extra care to avoid close contact with anyone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
The health service says you can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature. There's more advice for people who are high risk, how to look after yourself at home and information about testing on the NHS website.
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