") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.egqDdf::before{display:none}}.hzcAyL{min-height:389px;margin-bottom:16px;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.hzcAyL{min-height:380px}}.cVPRNn{aspect-ratio:16/9}.fGzMFb{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.fGzMFb{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.fGzMFb{max-width:622px}}.hHATii{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.frlkrE{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.gFogGN{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.gFogGN:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.gFogGN:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.cDGSNR{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eSVQSf{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.eSVQSf::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.eSVQSf::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0),rgba(0,0,0,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.eSVQSf::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.5),rgba(0,0,0,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.eSVQSf::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fff,#000)}}@media(min-width:768px){.fiXggt{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.jikgMc{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.fLVhoJ .tp-container-inner,.fLVhoJ .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95);box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.95),rgba(0,0,0,0.95))}.fLVhoJ.closed{display:none}.hVIqlZ{width:32px}.hVIqlZ,.hVIqlZ:focus{color:#627aac;color:light-dark(#627aac,#627aac)}.hVIqlZ:hover,.hVIqlZ:active,.hVIqlZ:focus-visible{color:#9cabcb;color:light-dark(#9cabcb,#9cabcb)}@media(min-width:768px){.hVIqlZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.bnFTrl{width:32px}.bnFTrl,.bnFTrl:focus{color:#4e4e4e;color:light-dark(#4e4e4e,#4e4e4e)}.bnFTrl:hover,.bnFTrl:active,.bnFTrl:focus-visible{color:#919191;color:light-dark(#919191,#919191)}@media(min-width:768px){.bnFTrl.mobile-only{display:none}}.dtuElZ{width:32px}.dtuElZ,.dtuElZ:focus{color:#25d366;color:light-dark(#25d366,#25d366)}.dtuElZ:hover,.dtuElZ:active,.dtuElZ:focus-visible{color:#66e093;color:light-dark(#66e093,#66e093)}@media(min-width:768px){.dtuElZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.geQZNt{width:32px}.geQZNt,.geQZNt:focus{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.geQZNt:hover,.geQZNt:active,.geQZNt:focus-visible{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}@media(min-width:768px){.geQZNt.mobile-only{display:none}}.fMVKDn{display:flex;gap:12px}.kHbRaW .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.kHbRaW:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.kHbRaW:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.kHbRaW.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.LrqJk{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7;color:light-dark(#70a5a7,#70a5a7)}.gsHIni{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.jTEZjg{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.jTEZjg{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.laxBOB{display:flex}.sticky .laxBOB{flex-direction:column}.hDXmfN{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.hDXmfN{height:25px}}.jGyHqZ{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jGyHqZ::after{content:':'}.bsdbXr{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff);font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.bsdbXr::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .eWQiqu{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .eWQiqu{margin-top:-407px}}.eWQiqu>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .eWQiqu>p{line-height:27px}.eWQiqu>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .eWQiqu>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.article-sgi .eWQiqu>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.eWQiqu>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.eWQiqu span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.gCqUwG{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.gCqUwG{min-height:450px}}.teads .gCqUwG{display:block}.gCqUwG [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jcsUho{display:none}}.jcsUho[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.jcsUho.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.cGmNxG{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.cGmNxG{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.cGmNxG{max-width:622px}}.iqSitv{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;border-top:8px solid light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e);background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}@media(min-width:768px){.iqSitv{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.dlmCG{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dlmCG{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.JMagJ{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.JMagJ{display:none}}.eRfgdl{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a);color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}@media(min-width:768px){.eRfgdl{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.icmspM{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jEzKon{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jEzKon:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jEzKon:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.kxbAkl{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.igdyzJ{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.igdyzJ{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.jDeUSg{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.jDeUSg{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.bBLSBr{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.bBLSBr{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.DIgLQ{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.DIgLQ{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.cPkZJS{order:-1}}.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0),rgba(102,0,10,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0.5),rgba(102,0,10,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fJelbS .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}}.kGYWZt{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eXohla{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fhuRbW{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.fhuRbW .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.fhuRbW .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .fhuRbW .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.fhuRbW.sponsored-article img,.fhuRbW.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.fhuRbW.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.fhuRbW .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.fhuRbW .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.fhuRbW .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.fhuRbW .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.fhuRbW .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.fhuRbW{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.fhuRbW{max-width:624px;margin:0}.fhuRbW.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.fhuRbW{padding-right:0}.fhuRbW .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.fhuRbW .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.fhuRbW .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}.fhuRbW .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.fhuRbW .big-letter{--color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}}.cWTNvs{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#bdbdbd);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cWTNvs{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.cWTNvs{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.hWBwna{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .hWBwna{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .hWBwna{height:20px}}.hWBwna::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hWBwna:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hWBwna{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.hWBwna::before{margin-top:2px}}.hWBwna time{display:block}.hWBwna time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.iJtxXk{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;color:light-dark(#ef4757,#ec1a2e);font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.iJtxXk:hover,.iJtxXk:active{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#ac2a2c)}@media(min-width:768px){.iJtxXk{margin-bottom:0}}.euvwNP{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.euvwNP::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#bdbdbd);content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.euvwNP:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.euvwNP{margin-bottom:0}}.fkbzZm{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.fkbzZm{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.fkbzZm{width:30%}}.eTZxgZ{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.eTZxgZ{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.eTZxgZ .sc-mzrbq8-0{order:1}.eTZxgZ .sc-mzrbq8-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.eTZxgZ{flex-direction:row}}.bVKiLw{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bVKiLw{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .bVKiLw{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.bVKiLw{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .bVKiLw{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.bVKiLw a{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.bVKiLw a:hover{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}.bVKiLw a:hover::after{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.bVKiLw a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.bVKiLw a:last-child::after{display:none}.hMldFc{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.cFDphy{margin:0;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#bdbdbd);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cFDphy{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.cFDphy{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.cFDphy p{font:inherit}.article-feature .cFDphy a{font-weight:bold}.gHvZoJ{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#000)}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHvZoJ{padding:0 16px}.parallax .gHvZoJ{max-width:1240px}}.Rdknw{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.Rdknw{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.Rdknw{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.cKuFPu{background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#000)}.cKuFPu .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#000)}.cKuFPu .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.cKuFPu .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.cKuFPu .sc-qvufca-2,.cKuFPu .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.cKuFPu .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.cKuFPu .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}.bpXajI{max-width:100%;clear:both}.iExVwO{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.VkEbW{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.VkEbW.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.jpuEXf{min-height:600px}.jpuEXf #mpu1,.jpuEXf #sidebar1{position:sticky;top:16px}.bIVNVq{min-height:250px}.dcXsiQ{max-width:100%}.loNRDw{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.ezMsnK{margin:0 0 12px}.iIPWMQ{height:380px}.gXoWZo{width:100%;height:51px}.hjNIYD{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#919191,#646464)}.vzWDo{margin-bottom:16px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#d3d3d3,#919191)}.vzWDo [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e;background-color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.vzWDo [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;fill:light-dark(#fff,#000);stroke:transparent}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#222);font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.vzWDo [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:light-dark(#222,#000)}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.vzWDo [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg-opaque:light-dark(rgba(34,34,34,0.7),rgba(0,0,0,0.7))}}.clClJO{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.clClJO{display:none}}.doEDPw{width:308px}.doEDPw.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.doEDPw{display:none}}.article-liveblog .ebbjSB{background-color:#f7f7f7;background-color:light-dark(#f7f7f7,#222)}.ghFVC{justify-content:center}.clCHwE{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News Health Covid infections rise in the UK as 1.3 million test positive for coronavirus New figures come a day after ONS said number living with long Covid has also increased
Unicef 'generation Covid' appeal Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more Covid cases in the UK have surged by 25% in a week amid concerns a new wave of the disease is already underway.
Some 1.3 million people tested positive for the illness in the week ending 26 September, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, an increase on 1.1m the week before.
Infections increased in England and Northern Ireland but the trend is uncertain in Scotland and Wales, the ONS added.
open image in gallery
(Press Association Images) It comes a day after separate figures released by the ONS said that were 2.3 million people in the UK living with long Covid - an increase of 300,000 cases in the previous reporting period.
Hospitalisations for Covid-19 are also on the rise. The number of people admitted to wards went up by 37 per cent in the past week, according to government figures.
A total of 9,631 people with coronavirus were in hospital as of 8am on Wednesday, according to NHS England – the highest figure since 3 August.
According to the NHS, most people suffering with long Covid recover within a few days or weeks and usually make a full recovery within 12 weeks.
For some, however, the symptoms can last longer.
Extreme tiredness or fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches are among some of the most commonly reported symptoms.
open image in gallery
Pressures are growing on the NHS ahead of the winter (PA Wire) Of people with self-reported long Covid, 253,000 (13 per cent) said they first had (or suspected they had) the virus less than 12 weeks previously, 1.7 million people (83 per cent) at least 12 weeks previously, 892,000 (45 per cent) at least one year previously, and 429,000 (22 per cent) at least two years previously.
As a proportion of the UK population, the prevalence of self-reported long Covid was greatest in people aged 35 to 69 years, females, people living in more deprived areas, those working in social care, those aged 16 years or over who were not working and not looking for work, and those with another activity-limiting health condition or disability, the ONS said.
Covid cases have been relatively low through the summer months but are beginning to rise again.
According to the latest available official figures, they were up 14 per cent.
open image in gallery
This will be the first winter since the UK left pandemic rules (Getty Images) Some 1.1 million people in private households tested positive for coronavirus in the latest ONS survey, which covers the seven days to 17 September in England and the week to 20 September in the other three nations.
Experts have warned the country could be heading into another “devastating” wave of the virus this autumn , exacerbated by a drop in testing and inadequate surveillance of new immune-evasive subvariants.
Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the Covid ZOE app, told The Independent the UK was already at the start of the next wave of coronavirus.
“It looks like we’re in the start of the next wave and this time it’s affected older people slightly earlier than the last wave,” Prof Spector said.
He added: “Many people are still using the government guidelines about symptoms which are wrong. At the moment, Covid starts in two-thirds of people with a sore throat. Fever and loss of smell are really rare now – so many old people may not think they’ve got Covid.
“They’d say it’s a cold and not be tested.”
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments