A Covid memorial wall in central London honours those who died in the pandemic
(Picture: PA Wire)Covid-19 infections in London have almost doubled in recent weeks as cases continue to rise in all four nations of the UK.
The increase is likely to be driven by the latest Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, figures show.
In the most recent week of data, June 12 to 18, 13,166 new cases were detected in London compared with 10,773 cases the previous week.
That translate to a rate of 146 cases per 100,000 people, up from a rate of 120 the week prior.
The total number of cases in London so far is 2,938,187 - 15.5 percent of England’s total cases.
Health experts said while there is “currently no evidence” that BA.4 and BA.5 lead to more serious symptoms than previous variants, nearly one in six people aged 75 and over have not received a booster dose of vaccine in the past six months, putting them more at risk of severe disease.
A total of 1.7 million people in private households are estimated to have had the virus last week, up 23 percent from 1.4 million a week earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The rise of 23 percent is lower than the 43 percent jump in the previous week’s figures but it means total infections are now at levels last seen at the end of April.
They are also higher than the peak reached during the second wave of the virus in January 2021.
The current reproduction (R) rate for England is 1.1 to 1.4, meaning on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 14 other people.
However, infections are still below the record 4.9 million seen at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave at the end of March this year.
Some 6,401 patients in England had Covid-19 on June 23, up 28 percent on the previous week, Government figures show.
In Scotland, 948 patients were recorded on June 19, the latest date available, up 27 percent.
Wales has seen its number of patients jump 27 percent week-on-week, reaching 360 on June 22.
Hospital numbers in all nations had previously been on a steady downwards trend since early April, following the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave.
The trend in Northern Ireland is uncertain, with numbers levelling off in recent days between 250 and 270.
Most hospital patients who test positive for Covid-19 are being treated primarily for something else, rather than the virus.
The virus continues to be most prevalent in Scotland, where 250,700 people were likely to test positive for Covid-19 last week, or one in 20.
The latest data from our #COVID19 Infection Survey show infection rates have continued to increase across all four UK countries, likely driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants https://t.co/3DdwGedzgh pic.twitter.com/ZP70ZMOili
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) June 24, 2022
In England, 1.4 million people were likely to have had the virus last week, the equivalent of around one in 40.
This is up from 1.1 million, or one in 50 people, the previous week.
Wales has seen infections rise slightly to 68,500 people, or one in 45, up from 64,800, also one in 45.
In Northern Ireland, Covid-19 infections jumped to an estimated 59,900 people, or one in 30, up from 42,900, or one in 45.
The percentage of people testing positive is thought to have increased among all age groups in England and all regions except the North East and South East, where the trend is described by the ONS as “uncertain”.
Infection levels are highest among 25 to 34-year-olds, where 3.3 percent – one in 30 – were likely to have had the virus last week.
Separate analysis published on Friday by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggests the Omicron variant BA.5 is growing approximately 35 percent faster than BA.2, while BA.4 is growing 19 percent faster – meaning it is likely that BA.5 will soon become the dominant Covid-19 variant in the UK.
There is “currently no evidence” that BA.4 and BA.5 cause more serious illness than previous variants, the HSA said.
Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA chief medical adviser, said: “We have seen a rise in hospital admissions in line with community infections but vaccinations are continuing to keep ICU admissions and deaths at low levels.
All over-75s in the UK have been offered a “spring booster”, available at least three months after their most recent jab, to ensure they continue to receive the maximum possible protection from the virus.
The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is now on an upwards trend in most parts of the country.
