Almost 1,500 people tested positive for the coronavirus last week, up by 20 per cent on the week before, new data from the UK Health Security Agency has revealed
Covid cases have jumped to their highest levels this year, new data has revealed.
Almost 1,500 people tested positive for the virus last week up by 20 per cent on the week before, rising to the highest seven-day total since last year. While most people no longer test for Covid, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) runs surveillance testing to keep track of viruses spreading throughout the country.
There were 1,478 positive test results in the week ending Sunday Aug 17 – about 12 per cent higher than the second highest week of the year at the start of June.
A new strain of Covid, which has been dubbed “Stratus”, now makes up the majority of cases in the UK.
Also known by its technical name of XFG, experts have suggested the subvariant has a unique symptom that was not previously associated with Covid: a hoarse or raspy voice.
The World Health Organisation has designated Stratus as a “variant under monitoring”. Studies of the strain – which is a subvariant of Omicron – suggest it has mutated enough to evade some of the immunity the public has built up.
This means that people who have some immunity, either through past infection or vaccination, may become infected again, potentially explaining the uptick in cases. There are no signs that Stratus is more dangerous than previous variants.
The latest data from UKHSA shows there have been no increases in hospitalisations or deaths as a result of Covid, despite the apparent increase in cases.
Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said the data showed Covid “continues to circulate at baseline levels, although activity has increased slightly across indicators”.
He added: “If you have symptoms of flu or Covid such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.”
The NHS will begin a Covid vaccine programme ahead of this winter to offer booster doses to those eligible. This includes those aged 75 and over, living in a care home, or people with a suppressed immune system.