The number of patients with Covid-19 in Scottish hospitals has jumped by 6 percent in the most recent week, new figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data further estimates 1 in 16 Scots have tested positive for coronavirus.
According to Public Health Scotland 's (PHS) latest Covid survey, there were on average 1,770 patients in hospital with a positive Covid-19 test in the week ending July 17 - a 6 per cent increase from the previous week. Despite this rise, the number of patients admitted to intensive care units has dropped, with 21 new admissions the week ending July 17, a decrease of two from the week ending July 10.
This comes as cases in Scotland rose for the sixth week in a row. The ONS latest Covid Infection Survey estimated that the number of people in Scotland testing positive for COVID-19 was 334,000, or 6 per cent of the population, a slight rise from 312,800 the previous week.
Covid-19 continues to spread through the rest of the UK, with one in 19 people testing positive in England, and one in 17 people in both Wales and Northern Ireland. Rather than use its own figures to report cases, PHS is now referencing ONS data for case numbers., as its data is considered more accurate due to less people reporting Covid cases.
Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 have played a role in the rise of cases in the UK. Lack of testing, reinfections and high levels of social gathering have also contributed to the spreading of coronavirus.
Last week, the Scottish Government confirmed another booster vaccine will be offered to high risk groups from September. Care home residents and staff will be able to get a further booster to offer stronger protection against the virus.
The booster will also be offered to frontline health and social workers, as well as those aged over 50 and vulnerable people with underlying health conditions. These boosters will be administered to those eligible with the flue vaccination.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
