New figures show Covid cases are particularly high in some parts of the country just as a new variant emerges – while other areas have managed to dodge the spike
Covid cases are still on the rise as the UK enters what is expected to be a challenging winter, new figures show.
It comes after the NHS warned the country may be set for a potential ‘tripledemic’ of viruses this winter if Brits fail to book their winter vaccines against the flu, Covid and RSV. Public health bosses warned the three viruses could merge into a deadly triple threat, just as a new variant emerged.
The highly transmissible strain is feared to keep boosting case numbers in the UK, with experts urging Brits to get their autumn vaccines as soon as possible. The variant, named XEC, evolved from Omicron but is more transmissible than its predecessors – and is on its way to becoming the most dominant in the UK.
New figures show Covid cases are particularly high in some parts of the country, while other areas have managed to dodge the spike. The highest was recorded in Cumbria, Wales, with 34.6 new cases for every 100,000 people in the Eden council area. That’s up from 18.2 a week earlier.
Other areas seeing a boost include Amber Valley in the East Midlands with 20.6 cases per 100,000 people, Carlisle with 18.1, and Copeland (also in Cumbria) seeing 16.4 cases.
The UKHSA’s latest report shows hospitalisations have risen to 4.55 per 100,000, a significant increase from the rate of 3.72 per 100,000 the previous week. 59 Covid-19 “acute respiratory incidents” were highlighted in the report. Positivity for the virus has reached its highest level among Brits aged 85 and over.
Despite the concerning numbers, 27 areas in England have so far managed to dodge the UK’s Covid spike – boasting no new cases of Covid in the seven days to October 9, according to the latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency.
A further 32 areas had fewer than one new case for every 100,000 people and 124 areas had between one and five cases per 100,000 people. But numbers are still comparatively high in parts of Cumbria. You can see how many cases were in your local area using our interactive map.
Local authorities with zero cases per 100,000 people
- Adur
- Arun
- Ashford
- Brentwood
- Burnley
- Canterbury
- Craven
- Dover
- Elmbridge
- Epsom and Ewell
- Folkestone and Hythe
- Gravesham
- Hertsmere
- Hyndburn
- King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
- Kingston upon Thames
- Malvern Hills
- Merton
- North Devon
- Pendle
- Ribble Valley
- Rossendale
- Rother
- Thanet
- Three Rivers
- Torridge
- Tunbridge Wells
