Coronavirus: One in 95 people estimated to have had Covid in last week, ONS figures suggest

Data shows infection rates have increased in all regions of England and Scotland

One in 95 people had Covid-19 in England in the week to 10 July, according to official estimates, as infection rates continue to rise sharply ahead of the lifting of restrictions later this month.

The Office for National Statistics said on Friday that the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus was estimated to have increased in all regions of England, with the North East recording the highest proportion of people likely to test positive - about one in 40.

“In England, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus continued to increase in the week ending 10 July 2021,” the ONS said.

“We estimate that 577,700 people within the community population in England had Covid-19... equating to around 1 in 95 people.”

The current figure is up from one in 160 people in the previous week and is the highest number since the week to 6 February.

Meanwhile, about one in 90 people in Scotland were estimated to have had Covid in the week to 10 July, up from one in 100 in the previous week, while the figure in Wales was one in 360 people, broadly unchanged from one in 340 in the previous week.

In Northern Ireland, the trend was “uncertain” as an estimated one in 290 people had coronavirus, broadly unchanged from one in 300 in the previous week.

The ONS added that it believed infection rates had increased across all age groups in England, with one in 35 people from school year 12 to age 24 estimated to have had the virus in the most recent seven-day period.

The latest figures will likely add to concerns over plans to lift all Covid restrictions in England from 19 July, as infection rates are expected to soar to even higher levels later this month.

Some experts fear that extremely high levels of cases could lead to a rate of hospitalisations that puts unsustainable pressure on the NHS, despite the success of the UK’s vaccination campaign in weakening the link between cases and serious illness.

On Friday, Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said it was “encouraging” that the current increase in cases had not yet led to a similar increase in hospitalisations and deaths.

However, Dr Harries warned that vaccines “do not completely eliminate risk” despite offering strong protection against the virus.

“As we approach the end of restrictions, it is as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution,” she said.

“Take your free twice-weekly rapid tests and if you have symptoms, you should book a PCR test immediately and stay at home until you receive your result.”

Additional reporting by PA