Early signs Covid rates could back on the rise again

Latest stats show a uptick in hospitalisations is expected

THERE have been ‘early signs of possible rising coronavirus infections,’ according to new data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Infections across England have risen with hospital admissions expected to follow the trend in a matter of days.

The rise in infections follows an increase in infections ‘compatible with some Omicron variants,’ said the ONS on Friday.

The estimated percentage of the community population (those not in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings) that had Covid-19 in the week leading up to June 2, the most recent data available, was 797,500 or 1 in 70 people in England.

The percentage of people testing positive increased in the north west, south east and London, and there were early signs of an increase in the east of England, in the latest week (ending June 2). The percentage of people testing positive decreased in the West Midlands and south west.

However, Greater Manchester public health chiefs have long highlighted the difficulties in judging coronavirus trends now free mass testing is no longer available.

As tests have to be paid for and are not mandatory, far fewer people will be likely to test and report their results, leaving a lack of accurate data.

Hospital admissions and coronavirus deaths can still be used to track coronavirus trends. Although, there can be a time lag in between the infection itself and the hospitalisation and/or death from the virus, meaning those figures do not give a contemporary picture of the current infection rate.

Greater Manchester health sources have indicated to the M.E.N. that the next wave is likely to be expected around September, when children return to school.

But large scale social events, such as the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, will have an impact on the number of cases as it increases the chance of the virus spreading.

According to the latest government data, which covers June 5, there are 4,990 patients currently in hospital with coronavirus.

On May 31, new admissions in the north west stood at 86. They fell into the 50s in the following days, before rising to 93 on June 6, 77 on June 7 and 104 on June 8. The rolling sum of admissions in the region is currently 525, the highest since mid-May.

There were 455 deaths involving Covid-19 registered in Great Britain in the week ending May 27. This is a decrease from 600 deaths in the previous week (ending May 20). The number of coronavirus deaths in the north west for the week ending May 27 was 52.

There has been a handful of Covid19 deaths each day for the last week in the region, apart from on June 9 when there were none.

Large scale social events, such as the Jubilee, will have an impact on the number of cases