UK: 10 major areas of Covid-19 infection after an increase in cases

Analysis of the latest official statistics indicates high rates of coronavirus infection in nearly half of the UK’s local areas. In addition, all but six of the top 100 winners come from England.

With free mass testing in England ending this week, Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted people should “learn to live with Covid-19”.

But with official estimates that cases are at record levels, a spokesperson for the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) said: independent On Saturday, “the epidemic is not over yet.”

According to the latest figures from the UKHSA, which are based on official testing data, the rate of people testing positive for the virus rose by 185 from 380 local authorities in the UK, nearly 49 per cent, in the week to Sunday 27 March.

By contrast, infection rates in 193 localities decreased, by just over 50 percent, over the same period, and remained unchanged in two places, South Kestivian and West Suffolk.

Of the ten regions with the highest rates of infection, nine were in Scotland. However, eight of the 10 largest weekly declines in case rates also occurred north of the border.

The UK region with the highest infection rate was Na h-Eileanan Siar, in Stornoway, where 2,898 out of every 100,000 people tested positive for the virus in the week ending Sunday, March 27, bringing the total to 768.

It was followed by the Shetland Islands, where 1,635 people per 100,000 tested positive, and then South, North and East Ayrshire, which had rates of more than 1,560 people per 100,000 people. Subsequently, the highest rates were recorded in Falkirk, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Devon and West Dunbartonshire.

The 10 regions with the lowest infection rates were in Wales, and Swansea recorded the lowest rate of 325 positive tests per 100,000 people.

While Scotland enjoyed the largest weekly decline in infection rates, all but six of the 100 largest increases were in England.

The largest weekly increases were in Merthyr Tydfil (51%), South Tyneside (40%), Middlesborough (38%), Anglesey Island and Hartlepool (both 31%).

However, infection rates in each of those areas remained low compared to the rest of the UK: South Tyneside alone saw more than 750 per 100,000 people test positive in the week ending last Sunday.

The top five regions with the highest number of people testing positive that week were Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (7484), the city of Glasgow (7190), the city of Edinburgh (6608), Wiltshire (6226) and Leeds (5746).

However, since these numbers include only those who have reported having tested positive for the virus, the weekly infection survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which elicits test results for tens of thousands of people, is believed to provide a more accurate picture.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, released on Friday, are a stark interpretation. They suggest that 4.9 million people in the UK, equivalent to one in 13 people, contracted Covid-19 in the week up to last Saturday.

This will be it highest recorded level The most recent increase was driven by the more transmissible BA.2 variant of the omicron.

Zoe’s study on covid-19, which is based on self-reported data by the public, indicates that cases in the UK are at record levels: it is currently estimated that nearly 4.5 million people have symptoms of coronavirus.

Oxford University biologist James Naismith said Saturday that he believes most people, except those who are fully protected or not exposed to the virus, will likely have the variant by summer.

“It literally means living with the virus by having it,” he told The Associated Press.

A UKHSA spokesperson said independent Saturday: “As we learn to live with Covid-19, we encourage people to take simple steps to help keep themselves and others safe.”

“The pandemic is not over yet. Covid-19 still poses a real danger to many of us, especially with high case and hospitalization rates. This is why it makes sense to wear a face covering indoors, keep indoor spaces ventilated, and stay away from others if they are They have no symptoms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19.”

“Vaccination remains the best way to protect us all from serious illness and recovery from COVID-19 infection. If you haven’t yet come for your primary or booster vaccination, you should do so right away: the sooner you get vaccinated, the faster you, your family and friends are protected.” “.

Here are the regions with the 10 highest infection rates and the 10 lowest infection rates, according to UKHSA data, as of March 27:

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