Covid Infections Surge to 3.8 Million Across UK
Covid cases in the UK have shot up to an estimated 3.8 million – a 7% jump from the previous week’s 3.5 million, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That’s roughly one in every 17 people infected as of the week ending July 13.
This marks the highest infection level since mid-April, during the Omicron BA.2 wave, but still shy of March’s record 4.9 million cases.
England and Scotland Hit Hardest
“Overall, infections have continued to rise in England, reaching levels similar to those seen in April during the Omicron BA.2 wave,” said Kara Steel, Senior Statistician for the Covid-19 Infection Survey.
Scotland has the worst outbreak, with around 340,900 people infected — that’s one in every 15 Scots.
Age Groups and Regional Breakdown
- Highest infection rates: 16 to 24-year-olds and 50 to 69-year-olds
- Lowest infection rates: 6 to 11-year-olds
- Wales: Infections steady at 183,200 (1 in 17 people)
- Northern Ireland: Cases down to 88,400 (1 in 20 people), from 107,600 the week before
Trends in Northeast England and Northern Ireland remain uncertain, the ONS said.
BA.4 and BA.5 Still Reign
The BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants are driving the surge, making up 89.2% of infections in the week ending July 3.
With many infections unreported to the NHS, the ONS’s estimates paint the clearest picture yet of how widespread Covid remains.
