New Omicron wave hits UK as cases double in a fortnight driven by ‘faster-spreading’ new strains
COVID cases have nearly doubled in a fortnight with 1.7million Brits infected last week.
A new virus wave has kicked off in all four nations of the UK.
Faster-spreading strains of the Omicron variant are thought to be the driving force behind the rebound.
Office for National Statistics figures show infections in England rose to 1.3m from 1.1m the week before – and are now 70 per cent higher than at the start of June.
Cases are up to 68,500 in Wales, 250,700 in Scotland and 59,900 in Northern Ireland, all increases from the previous week.
The ONS’s Dr Rhiannon Yapp said: “There was an increase in the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus, likely caused by infections compatible with Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.”
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Former deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said the new strains may have an R rate as high as six, meaning each person infects six others.
Hospital admissions are also rising fast, with the daily figure doubling in the past fortnight from 577 on June 7 to 1,155 on Tuesday.
But Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, who admitted he no longer wears a face mask, said there is “nothing alarmist” in the data so far.
He told BBC Radio 4: “It is an uptick, but it is really very small in relation to the kind of peaks that we saw in January, and April.
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“And the hospitalisation signal, most importantly, is very small indeed.
“That is what my colleagues advising the government are going to be looking at most closely.
“If it remains relatively benign in the hospital sector then I think they'll have to say this is part of how we're beginning to adjust to living with this virus in the longer term.”
The UK Health Security Agency issued a renewed plea for vulnerable people to get a booster jab.
One million who are eligible have still not had their spring top-up.
Chief medical adviser at UKHSA, Prof Susan Hopkins, said: “It is clear that the increasing prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are significantly increasing the case numbers we have observed in recent weeks.
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“It’s more important than ever that we all remain alert, take precautions, and ensure that we’re up to date with Covid-19 vaccinations, which remain our best form of defence.
“It’s not too late to catch up.”