![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/covid-infections-in-the-over-70s-rise-in-uk-after-new-omicron-variants-found/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/0_Coronavirus.jpg&description=Two new mutations - the BQ.1 variant and the so-called "nightmare variant" XBB - have been recorded in the UK, as cases in the elderly and primary-aged children riseData shows two groups have a rise in infection ratesCoronavirus cases in the over-70s have risen slightly in the last week, as two new mutant variants have been discovered in the UK. More than 1,590,000 people, equivalent to one in 35, tested positive in England in the last week, the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed. The figures for Scotland are also equivalent to one in 35 with 141,400 positive cases. In Wales, one in 40 people (77,500 cases) have the infection, and in Northern Ireland one in 30 (61,200 cases) have Covid. The government data, released today, showed infections to the week ending Monday, October 24. In that week, slight increases were seen in children aged two years to primary school Year Six (a rise of 0.3 per cent) and those aged 70 years and over (a rise of 0.1 per cent). In the same week, the percentage testing positive decreased in those in school Year 12 to aged 24 years (a fall of 0.6 per cent) and those aged 50 to 69 years (a fall of 0.7 per cent). Stats were released today ( Press Association Images) The news comes as health officials warned there were two new mutant strains of coronavirus emerging in the UK. More than 700 cases of the BQ.1 variant have been logged across the country and a further 18 cases of the so-called "nightmare variant" XBB have also been recorded. XBB spreads quickly and appeared to evade people's vaccine protection. However, one expert questioned whether it was a "nightmare variant", and said it appears to be "no different from the other new strains". It is believed the variant may be behind the recent spike in Covid cases in Singapore. People are testing positive ( Getty Images) Neither of the Omicron strains BQ.1 or XBB have been listed as variants of concern by the UK Health Security Agency. Dr Meera Chand, dire){kind=link}
Two new mutations – the BQ.1 variant and the so-called “nightmare variant” XBB – have been recorded in the UK, as cases in the elderly and primary-aged children rise
Coronavirus cases in the over-70s have risen slightly in the last week, as two new mutant variants have been discovered in the UK.
More than 1,590,000 people, equivalent to one in 35, tested positive in England in the last week, the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed.
The figures for Scotland are also equivalent to one in 35 with 141,400 positive cases.
In Wales, one in 40 people (77,500 cases) have the infection, and in Northern Ireland one in 30 (61,200 cases) have Covid.