The number of people who have tested positive for COVID in the UK has increased by 29% to nearly 3.5 million, the latest figures show.
In the UK, an estimated 2,873,600 people contracted coronavirus in the week to July 6, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
There are 334,000 cases in Scotland, 183,500 in Wales and 107,600 in Northern Ireland.
This total is the largest since mid-April and is 29% higher than 2.7 million last weekbut still far below the UK record high of 4.9 million reported at the end of March.
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According to the ONS, the estimated proportion of the public population – i.e. those not in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings – who contracted COVID in the most recent week was 5.27% in the UK, or every 19 people have one person.
The figure is 6.04% in Wales, one in 17 people, 5.86% in Northern Ireland, also one in 17 and 6.34% in Scotland, or one in 16.
The ONS added: “Infections are increasing across all regions and age groups in the UK”.
The figures were obtained from PCR tests using nasal and throat swabs.
Although this increase in cases has been less severe than those seen previously, The relentless pressure is causing its damage in emergency departments.
Every patient admitted to the hospital with the virus means another bed is made up, which means a longer wait for other patients.
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Dr Mohammed Munavvar, clinical director of respiratory medicine, Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Dr Mohammed Munavvar told Sky News that his hospital’s work to tackle the NHS waiting list had come a long way, but has now been disrupted.
“Other patients could not be admitted and treated, and patients who had been waiting a long time for their procedures and treatment were once again delayed,” he said.
“That is putting a lot of pressure on the system and the restoration work has already started very well.”
