Biggest spike in coronavirus infections since June as Greater Manchester sees hundreds of new cases
14.10.2022 - 21:51
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Total Covid-19 infections in the UK have risen 31 per cent, the biggest percentage jump since June. Most of the country is now seeing a steady increase in virus levels.
There has also been “another notable rise” in infections among older age groups, who are seeing the highest rates of admission to hospital.
The figures come on the day that everyone in England aged 50 and over can now book an appointment to receive a fresh booster dose of coronavirus vaccine.
READ MORE:Demands for public inquiry amid 'catastrophic disaster' at mental health unit as alleged abuse exposed
Some 1.7 million people in private households across the UK are likely to have tested positive for coronavirus in the period September 23 to October 3, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is up from 1.3 million in the previous survey, which covered the period September 18 to 26.
It is the highest UK-wide total since late July, but is still below the 3.8 million weekly infections in early July, at the peak of the wave caused by the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants of the virus.
There is a lag in the reporting of the ONS data due to the time it takes for the survey to be compiled.
More recent figures show the number of people in hospital testing positive for Covid-19 is still on a clear upwards trend, though there are signs the rate of increase may have slowed in recent days.
In Greater Manchester, coronavirus infection rates have gone up in nine boroughs. The weekly rates have fallen in one borough.
Bury now has the highest coronavirus infection rate in Greater Manchester, replacing Stockport. The borough recorded a rate of 91.2 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending October 9, according to the latest data from the UK Health