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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Covid: Protect elderly from rising virus levels in UK | Covid: Protect elderly from rising virus levels in UK |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Covid is on the rise again in the UK and people who feel unwell should avoid vulnerable friends, colleagues and relatives as a precaution, say experts. | Covid is on the rise again in the UK and people who feel unwell should avoid vulnerable friends, colleagues and relatives as a precaution, say experts. |
| Data suggests 1.3 million or one in 50 has Covid, with a "marked increase" in infections among over-70s in England. | Data suggests 1.3 million or one in 50 has Covid, with a "marked increase" in infections among over-70s in England. |
| There are no new restrictions, but people are being reminded to take extra care and protect the elderly. | There are no new restrictions, but people are being reminded to take extra care and protect the elderly. |
| There are fears of a flu and Covid "twindemic" this winter, and those who qualify for free jabs should get them. | There are fears of a flu and Covid "twindemic" this winter, and those who qualify for free jabs should get them. |
| Reminder texts, emails and letters will be sent out next week to more than 6m people in at risk groups, says NHS England. | Reminder texts, emails and letters will be sent out next week to more than 6m people in at risk groups, says NHS England. |
| The UK's National Statistician Sir Ian Diamond told the BBC it was too soon to call what was happening a "winter wave", but it could turn into one. | The UK's National Statistician Sir Ian Diamond told the BBC it was too soon to call what was happening a "winter wave", but it could turn into one. |
| "It is incredibly important that we maintain very high levels of vaccine uptake across our country," he said. | "It is incredibly important that we maintain very high levels of vaccine uptake across our country," he said. |
| Who can get a Covid booster this autumn? | Who can get a Covid booster this autumn? |
| The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest Covid is infecting: | The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest Covid is infecting: |
| one in 50 people in England (up from one in 65) | one in 50 people in England (up from one in 65) |
| one in 50 people in Wales (the same as before) | one in 50 people in Wales (the same as before) |
| one in 40 in Northern Ireland (from one in 80) | one in 40 in Northern Ireland (from one in 80) |
| one in 45 in Scotland (the same as before) | one in 45 in Scotland (the same as before) |
| The estimates are based on thousands of random tests on people in private households across the UK a couple of weeks ago, whether or not they have symptoms. | The estimates are based on thousands of random tests on people in private households across the UK a couple of weeks ago, whether or not they have symptoms. |
| Meanwhile, Covid hospital admissions in England are rising too. | Meanwhile, Covid hospital admissions in England are rising too. |
| Rates are highest among people aged 85 and over, at 132.3 per 100,000. | Rates are highest among people aged 85 and over, at 132.3 per 100,000. |
| This is up from 80.1 and is the highest rate for this age group since late July. | This is up from 80.1 and is the highest rate for this age group since late July. |
| About two-thirds of patients in hospital who test positive for Covid are being treated primarily for something else, however. | About two-thirds of patients in hospital who test positive for Covid are being treated primarily for something else, however. |
| Not alarming, but concerning | Not alarming, but concerning |
| Dr Mary Ramsay from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that with people back from holidays and children back in school, the rises were to be expected. | Dr Mary Ramsay from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that with people back from holidays and children back in school, the rises were to be expected. |
| She told the BBC most of the infections are due to Omicron variants of Covid, which have been circulating for some time. | She told the BBC most of the infections are due to Omicron variants of Covid, which have been circulating for some time. |
| "This isn't being driven by a new variant, so it is difficult to say how much this is going to carry on through the winter now that people are in that mode - back at work, back at school. We are keeping a very close eye," she said. | "This isn't being driven by a new variant, so it is difficult to say how much this is going to carry on through the winter now that people are in that mode - back at work, back at school. We are keeping a very close eye," she said. |
| Prof Mark Woolhouse, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, said the figures were "not yet alarming" but they were concerning. | Prof Mark Woolhouse, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, said the figures were "not yet alarming" but they were concerning. |
| Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that cases and hospitalisation rates were at their "highest level in months". | Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that cases and hospitalisation rates were at their "highest level in months". |
| With more outbreaks happening, she asked people to help protect the most vulnerable. | With more outbreaks happening, she asked people to help protect the most vulnerable. |
| "If you are unwell, it is particularly important to avoid contact with elderly people or those who are more likely to have severe disease because of their ongoing health conditions. | "If you are unwell, it is particularly important to avoid contact with elderly people or those who are more likely to have severe disease because of their ongoing health conditions. |
| "If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, wearing a face covering will also help stop infections spreading," she said. | "If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, wearing a face covering will also help stop infections spreading," she said. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | Wales |
| Coronavirus testing | Coronavirus testing |
| England | England |
| Coronavirus pandemic |