One in 95 has virus as R rate is back above 1

ONE in 95 people had Covid-19 last week amid an alarming rise in cases among older age groups, figures show.

The weekly Office for National Statistics survey, based on random swab testing, estimated 567,300 people were infected in the week up until December 12. This is up from 81,500 people, or one in 115, the previous week.

The bleak figures came as the Government’s scientific advisers warned that the R number for England has jumped to between 1.1 and 1.3, up from 0.8 to 1 last week.

The R number is a measure of the average number of people infected by someone with the virus. If it is above one then the epidemic is growing.

The Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said: ‘The R estimate for England, like that of the UK, has increased compared to last week and is between 1.1 and 1.3.

‘All NHS England regions have R estimates that are above or span 1, suggesting the epidemic is growing in much of the country. The East of England, South East and London now have R estimates well above 1.’

The figures will pile pressure on Boris Johnson to impose a third national lockdown in January to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed.

The ONS survey found that infections had increased in most age groups.

In particular, there has been an alarming 65 per cent rise in infections among over-70s in the past two weeks, which is likely to lead to more hospital admissions and deaths.

The data supports the decision of Matt Hancock to move huge areas of southern England into the highest Tier Three restrictions from today.

Case rates in London and the East of England have doubled in the past 1 days, and numbers are also growing in the East Midlands and South East.

However, in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber, where millions have been under the strictest restrictions for months, cases are flat.