In England, an estimated 2,873,600 people had coronavirus in the week to July 6, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There were 334,000 cases in Scotland, 183,500 in Wales and 107,600 in Northern Ireland. The total is the biggest since mid-April and 29% higher than last week’s 2.7 million, but remains well below the UK record high of 4.9 million reported at the end of March. Revealed: The most common signs you have a COVID infection According to the ONS, the estimated proportion of the community population – meaning people not in hospital, nursing homes or other institutions – who had COVID-19 in the last week was 5.27% in England, or one in 19 people. The figure was 6.04% in Wales, one in 17 people, 5.86% in Northern Ireland, also one in 17 people, and 6.34% in Scotland, or one in 16 people. “Infections increased across all English regions and age groups,” the ONS added. Evidence is obtained from PCR tests using nasal and throat swabs. Although this spike in cases was less severe than those previously seen, the relentless pressure is taking a toll on emergency departments. Every patient in the hospital with the virus means another bed is taken up, which means longer waits for other patients. Read more: Analysis: Government may have to rethink strategy for living with COVID if summer surge continues Dr Mohammed Munavvar told Sky News that his hospital’s work to tackle NHS waiting lists had made a dent, but that has now been disrupted. He said: “Other patients cannot be admitted and treated, and patients are already waiting a long time for their operations and their treatment is once again being delayed. “This is putting a lot of pressure on the system and the restoration work, which was off to a very good start.”
