For the third week in a row, the total number of Covid-19 infections in the UK increased as the virus’ prevalence increased over the majority of the nation.
In England, levels have risen among all persons over 25, despite a decline in the percentage of youngsters who test positive.
The Office for National Statistics estimates that 1.4 million private homes in the UK were likely to have Covid-19 in the week ending February 14, up 17% from 1.2 million the week before (ONS).
Just about three million cases peaked at the end of December due to a spike in the virus in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The number then decreased for the majority of January before returning to growth in subsequent weeks.
According to the ONS, the Omicron variant BA.2.75, which has supplanted BA.5 and its subvariants as the predominant form of coronavirus in the UK, is the cause of the current surge.
Since the end of June 2022, the BA.5 variety has been the primary cause of Covid-19 infections in the nation.
However, the BA.2.75 family, with its subvariants XBB and CH.1.1, both of which have a “growth advantage,” currently accounts for approximately seventy-five percent (74.5%) of sequenced infections (UKHSA).
The majority of the UK has seen a rise in infections, with Northern Ireland being the outlier and showing an erratic pattern over the past week, according to Michelle Bowen, ONS’s head of health surveillance.
“The situation in England is complicated by age groups. Although the data is too recent to assess the effect of half-term, we have observed drops in students while seeing increases in all adults over the age of 25.
#COVID19 illnesses during the week ending February 14, 2023:
The predicted coronavirus prevalence in England has increased from one in 55 the previous week to around one in 45 persons.
Northern Ireland continues to have the lowest prevalence of the virus, at about one in 60 persons.
The most recent estimate is one in 45 persons for Scotland and one in 55 for Wales.
