Covid cases soar by a million in a week

COVID cases have climbed by a million in a week with numbers nearing record levels in England – while the toll in Scotland and Wales has hit an all-time high.

Swab tests suggest one in every 16 people in England is infected as the ultra-contagious Omicron variant BA.2 spreads, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Infection levels among the over-70s remain at their highest since estimates began in England in May 2020, with around one in 20 likely to have the virus – up from one in 30 in a week.

Across the UK, 4.26 million people were likely to have had coronavirus last week – just short of the 4.3 million in the first week of 2022, which was the highest since estimates began. The newer figure compares with 3.3 million the week before.

Northern Ireland is the only nation where infections are believed to be falling, with levels having dropped two weeks in a row.

Around 3.5 million people in

England are likely to have had Covid19 in the week to March 19.

The bug remains most prevalent among young children, however.

Around one in 12 (8.3 per cent) of those aged between two and 11 is

estimated to have had coronavirus last week. The ONS infection survey is the most reliable measure of the prevalence of Covid-19 in the UK.

Professor James Naismith, of Oxford University, said: “There is no sign yet that the virus has peaked in terms of infections.

“The sheer scale of the infection is now pressuring the health service.

“But the combination of vaccination, improved treatments and the less severe nature of Omicron means for the vast majority of those infected this will not be life-threatening.

“This wave will burn out by infecting all those who can be infected.

“Given the clear benefits of vaccination in avoiding severe illness, I advocate getting your first, second or third jabs as soon as possible.

“And for those offered a fourth – grab the opportunity. The vaccines are a triumph of science.”