Total Covid-19 infections in the UK have risen 31 per cent, the biggest percentage jump since June. Most of the country is now seeing a steady increase in virus levels.
There has also been “another notable rise” in infections among older age groups, who are seeing the highest rates of admission to hospital.
The figures come on the day that everyone in England aged 50 and over can now book an appointment to receive a fresh booster dose of coronavirus vaccine. READ MORE:Demands for public inquiry amid 'catastrophic disaster' at mental health unit as alleged abuse exposed Some 1.7 million people in private households across the UK are likely to have tested positive for coronavirus in the period September 23 to October 3, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is up from 1.3 million in the previous survey, which covered the period September 18 to 26. It is the highest UK-wide total since late July, but is still below the 3.8 million weekly infections in early July, at the peak of the wave caused by the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants of the virus.