The UK is surging towards 300,000 new Covid cases per day - with one in 21 Brits symptomatic with the deadly virus.
Amid the Covid resurgence, the R-value for the UK is estimated to be around 1.1 as case rates soar - meaning every 10 infected people pass it to 11 people on average.
According to the latest figures from the ZOE Covid Study, there are currently 285,507 new symptomatic cases every day in the UK on average.
This is up over a quarter from the 225,464 reported last week and paints a worrying picture.
The recent increases in the UK is primarily due to a subvariant of Omicron. The BA.5 variant which is now dominant in the UK.
The variant in question is thought to be “particularly good at immune escape” which has caused an increase in reinfections despite vaccine take up and natural immunity.
On top of that, health bosses warned the large number of upcoming large events such as festivals and sporting fixtures would contribute to the rise in rates over the coming weeks.
Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of ZOE said: “Our ZOE Health Study data shows the UK is in a new COVID wave that could soon exceed 300,000 daily cases, bringing us to levels seen during the height of the pandemic for the UK.
“It has already overtaken previous records in Scotland. Our app based data is reassuringly in line with the ONS survey last week - but their results are lagging behind ours by up to a week.”
However, he added some good news as well as symptoms remained mild amongst Brits with deaths still down on previous waves.
Despite that, “worryingly the number of hospitalisations is rapidly increasing” and Professor Spector advised Brits to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces and testing if possible.
This warning comes as across the board the data paints a worrying picture for the UK.
The number of people testing positive is up 36.9 per cent on last week, according to government data.
However, since the scrapping of free tests, accurately measuring how widespread the virus is amongst the public has become more difficult.
Similarly, deaths have risen over a quarter across the same time period.
This comes after an NHS health board brought back the requirement to wear face masks in hospitals and care homes in Wales.
Whilst the rest of the UK has an R-value of 1.1, Wales has one of 1.2, and health chiefs at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board decided to take action.
In a statement, a health board spokesman said: "Due to increased Covid-19 prevalence in our communities, increased number of Covid-19 ward outbreaks and the impact this is having on staff absence, we ask all staff, patients and visitors to support us by wearing face masks in all clinical areas in all health and care settings, unless exempt.”
