According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), covid infections continue to increase in the UK.
The virus is currently infecting approximately 2.7 million people or 1 in 25. One in thirty people had the virus within the week prior to this.
This is due to Omicron's fast-spreading subvariants, known as BA.4 or BA.5.
Even if you have had Covid before, the infection can still be caught.
However, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA's) most recent analysis has shown that jabs can help protect against serious illnesses.
Officials from the Health Department are encouraging anyone who is eligible to have a booster or vaccine in the last six months to do so. This includes people over 75 who are more likely to develop serious diseases.
The ONS has released the following estimates of the Covid rates in its latest report:
To estimate the amount of virus present, we have collected statistics from thousands of UK residents who tested positive for symptoms.
Sarah Crofts from the ONS's Covid-19 infect survey said that there is a continuing rise across all UK regions, English regions, and age groups.
She said that Scotland continues to have the highest infect rate, but it has been increasing at a slower pace than other UK countries. We will continue to monitor data to determine if the recent increase in Scotland is slowing down.
The UKHSA also shows that the number of people with Covid in hospitals has increased across all age groups. However, the greatest increases are seen in those aged 75 and over.
According to Dr Mary Ramsay from the UKHSA about 16% of over-75s had not received spring booster vaccines that protect against severe diseases.
She said there would be "substantial waning immunity" among older adults who do not receive the booster vaccine as scheduled.
On the 6th of July in England, more than 11,000 Covid-positive patients were admitted to hospital.
Although data from other UK countries is not up-to date, it suggests that there has been a similar increase in the past month.
The current number of Covid patients admitted to hospital is still far below the record of 34,000 set in January 2021 during the Alpha coronavirus wave.
Some patients who test positive for Covid at hospital may not be being treated.
This is about the case for approximately two-thirds (or more) of hospital patients at the moment.
In England, 217 Covid patients are in intensive care. This is an increase of 111 since June.
In January 2021, this type of care was needed by more than 3,700 people at a time when intensive care units were facing imminent overload.
