Coronavirus infection rate is close to reaching all-time high

WALES’ Covid infection rate has risen once again and is close to reaching an all-time high, as the Welsh Government announced that everyone aged 50 and over will be offered a booster vaccine this autumn.

The latest infection survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that an estimated 183,500 people – about one in 17 (6.04%) – in Wales had the virus during the week ending July 7.

That is an increase on the one in 20 reported the week before.

The rate is now approaching the record levels seen in the middle of March this year, when close to 8% of the Welsh public had the virus.

Across the UK, Covid-19 infections have jumped by nearly 800,000 in the last week.

A total of 3.5 million people in private households are estimated to have had Covid-19, up 29% from 2.7 million the previous week.

This is the highest estimate for total infections since mid-April, but is still below the record high of 4.9 million that was reached at the end of March.

In England, one in 19 were estimated to have the virus in the latest reporting week, in Northern Ireland it was one in 17 and one in 16 in Scotland.

The ONS said the increase in cases is likely caused by the more transmittable BA.4 and BA.5 strains of Omicron.

Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: “Infections are showing no signs of decreasing, with rates approaching levels last seen in March this year at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave.

“Rates have continued to increase across the UK and among all age groups. We will continue to closely monitor the data.”

Meanwhile hospital admissions for Covid have also risen in Wales over the past two months, but are nowhere near the peaks seen in the first and second waves.

On July 14, 1,113 patients were in hospital beds testing positive for the virus, which is up on the 965 recorded a week earlier and way up on the 400 or so in May.

It is predicted that this will peak at around 1,200-1,300 in the coming weeks, which are similar levels to January.

Perhaps more worrying is the number of patients in hospital who are being actively treated for the virus.

When it comes to acute hospitals, of the 622 confirmed cases of Covid, 119 (19%) were being actively treated for the virus. This is the highest number since April 13.

A week earlier, there were only 74 (13%) being actively treated for the virus.

But crucially, the number of people becoming seriously unwell with Covid is not rising.

On July 14, 17 Covid patients were needing an invasive ventilated bed in intensive care, down on the 19 recorded the week before.

Cardiff and Vale UHB had the most with five, followed by Swansea Bay with four, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB with three, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB with three and Hywel Dda UHB and Aneurin Bevan UHB with one each.

One of the biggest concerns at present is the high sickness absence rate among health and social care staff in Wales.

Currently more than 7% of NHS workers are not in work, with a third of them related to Covid. In the Welsh Ambulance Service that figure is at 11.6%.

Meanwhile, A&E attendances are well above the average for this time of year, which is putting huge pressure on the acute end of the system.

Health boards across Wales have chosen to reintroduce mask wearing in healthcare settings and some have tightened their policy on visiting.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government announced yesterday that all people aged 50 and over in Wales will be offered a booster vaccine to protect them against Covid-19 this autumn.

The boosters will also be available to residents and staff working in care homes for older adults, frontline health and social care workers, those aged five to 49 in clinical risk groups, pregnant women and household contacts of people with immunosuppression or carers aged 16 to 49.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said all eligible people will be offered an autumn booster by the end of November. Meanwhile, the flu vaccine will once again be available to all those at risk.

Ms Morgan said: “We are once again seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases and increased pressure on our NHS.

“We expect both Covid-19 and flu to circulate widely this winter and must be prepared for much higher or unseasonal flu activity.

“Vaccination is a vital tool for us all to protect ourselves and others as we learn how to live with Covid-19.”

She added: “I want to maximise the uptake of both flu and Covid-19 vaccines for everyone who is eligible, and we will continue to work to ensure no-one is left behind.

“Getting vaccinated when you are invited is a decision we can all take to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities, I encourage everyone to take up their appointments this autumn to protect yourselves and keep Wales safe.”