Elderly people in hospital with Covid-19 is seeing the biggest surge for 12 months as infections rates soar.
The hospitalisation rate for over-85s stood at 178.3 per 100,000 people last week, up from 137.0 the previous week.
For those aged 75 to 84 it was 74.3, up from 59.8.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said rates in both age groups now at their highest since mid-January 2021 at the peak of the second wave.
New infections are increasing in all age groups and in all regions and King’s College London today (Thursday) estimated an R value for the UK of 1.2.
It comes as staff absences at NHS hospitals in England due to Covid-19 jumped more than 30% week-on-week, the biggest increase of 2022.
Dr Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical adviser, said the figures were “a reminder to us all that the pandemic is not over”.
She added: “Hospital admissions and cases of Covid-19 have continued to rise and we can expect to see further increases before we start to see a decline.
“Vaccination is the key to staying safe from serious illness and it’s vital that everyone gets all of their recommended doses.
“Wearing a face covering in crowded or enclosed spaces, socialising outside where possible, and always observing good hand hygiene will also help to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
“Anyone with symptoms or a positive tests should limit their contact with others as much as possible.”
Despite the worryingly high hospitalisation rate, numbers in intensive care and dying with Covid are well below earlier waves.
The ZOE Covid study by King’s College London estimates that one in 19 Brits currently have symptomatic Covid.
Lead scientist Prof Tim Spector said: “After two years of the pandemic Covid-19 is affecting more people than ever before.
“The Government’s refusal to recognise the wide array of symptoms and to drop isolation advice and testing is likely driving the incredible number of cases we see today.
“Many people are no longer isolating when they have symptoms, either because they feel they don’t have to anymore or because they or their employers still don’t recognise symptoms like runny nose or sore throat as Covid.”
