An estimated 1.4 million people in private households in the UK were likely to have Covid-19 in the week to February 14, up 17% from 1.2 million the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The current increase is being driven by the Omicron variant BA.2.75, which has overtaken BA.5 and its subvariants as the dominant type of coronavirus in the UK, the ONS said. The BA.5 variant had been responsible for most Covid-19 infections in the country since the end of June 2022. Across the regions of England, infections have increased in the North East, North West, East Midlands, London and the South West, while the trends elsewhere were uncertain. There were 9.4 admissions per 100,000 people in the week to February 19, up from 7.9 per 100,000 the previous week and the fourth successive increase.

Source: The Herald February 24, 2023 19:45 UTC