Covid cases rise as one in 37 has virus in UK

The latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest 1 successful 37 radical successful the UK has coronavirus, a emergence from 1 successful 50 the week before.

Experts pass of a "notable rise" successful older radical successful England and Wales.

They accidental vaccines are the champion defence against the microorganism and impulse radical aged 50 and implicit and others eligible for booster jabs to get them.

There are fears of a flu and Covid "twindemic" this winter.

Sarah Crofts, lawman manager for the ONS Covid survey, said determination was a request for adjacent monitoring arsenic we moved done colder months.

She added: "Infections person risen again crossed overmuch of the United Kingdom, continuing the signifier of dependable increases seen implicit caller weeks, though Scotland and the North East of England had uncertain trends successful the latest week."

The latest ONS figures suggest Covid is infecting astir 2.7% of the colonisation - astir 1.7 cardinal radical overall.

But the proportionality of radical infected is higher successful older property groups. In radical aged 70 and implicit astir 3.7% person the microorganism successful England.

Across the UK Covid is infecting:

The estimates are based connected thousands of random tests taken by radical successful households crossed the UK a mates of weeks ago, whether oregon not they person symptoms.

Dr Mary Ramsay, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), told BBC News it was "particularly worrying" that the fig of infected older radical was rising "because they are the property radical that are apt to get terrible Covid and spell to hospital."

She said radical implicit 50 should beryllium encouraged to get their boosters to support them and assistance forestall them ending up successful hospital, but besides to support the NHS from pressures that are apt to get worse implicit the winter.

Everyone successful England aged 50 and implicit is present capable to publication a Covid booster and flu jab.

Over-50s successful Wales and Northern Ireland are besides already eligible for some jabs.

The Scottish authorities says that it volition statesman inviting 50 to 64-year-olds soon.

The fig of radical successful infirmary with Covid has besides been rising successful the past fewer weeks.

As of 12 October, figures amusement determination were 10,608 patients successful infirmary who had a affirmative coronavirus test.

That was up 10% connected the week earlier but inactive acold beneath the levels astatine the opening of the pandemic.

Around two-thirds of patients successful infirmary who trial affirmative for Covid are being treated chiefly for different things.

But they whitethorn request to beryllium isolated from different patients, putting other request connected hospitals.