DAILY coronavirus infections in the UK have increased by 36 per cent in a week, new government data has revealed.
A further 91,345 Brits have tested positive today with the number of patients receiving treatment in hospital for the bug also creeping up.
Today’s infection rate is also up 68 per cent on last month as the BA2 strain of Omicron continues to spread.
Vaccinations are still the best way to protect Brits from severe cases of Covid.
Many of the most vulnerable in society have now had four doses of the vaccine – but there is the concern that immunity is waning in some groups.
Hospitalisations have today hit 14,78, up from yesterday’s figure of 13,597.
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The number of Brits receiving hospital treatment for the bug hasn’t been this high since February 7, when figures hit 14,068.
But due to vaccinations and anti-viral drugs being rolled out to the most vulnerable – this uptick has not yet been seen to have made a difference to those in need of a ventilator.
At present 281 people are on a ventilator – a figure that has remained stable over the last few months.
Sadly, a further 153 people have lost their lives 28 days after a positive test.
This is up slightly on this time last week, when it was reported that 123 people had died.
But it is down from last month’s rate of 199.
Covid cases have been climbing since the lifting of restrictions and yesterday they hit 109,802.
The last time cases were over 100,000 on a single day was February 1, when the country saw 112,458 new infections.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said this rise in cases was to be expected after ripping up the Covid rule book last month.
While Omicron is a milder infection than previous variants such as Delta and Alpha, it is more transmissible.
And now the Omicron sub-variant, BA2, is now the dominant strain in the UK.
It is thought to be just as mild, especially in the vaccinated, but spreads far quicker.
NHS England is prepped to start dishing out vaccines to eligible people later this month, as long as they are six months on from their last shot.
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The original plan was to start the next phase of the rollout from April, but anyone who is eligible before then can have another vaccine.
It has not been confirmed when exactly this might start, with some reports suggesting from March 21 – if you think you are eligible, wait for your invite.
