New data from the ZOE health study shows there were 92,965 new daily cases of symptomatic infection on September 1, nearly double the 50,000 we were seeing at the start of August
Covid cases have almost doubled over the last month to almost 93,000 new infections par day, the latest estimates show.
New data from the ZOE health study shows there were 92,965 new daily cases of symptomatic infection on September 1, nearly double the 50,000 we were seeing at the start of August. The ZOE heath app collects data reported from millions of users – it now estimates around 1.15million people in the UK currently have the virus.
With schools returning today cases are expected to continue rising as we head into autumn. The worrying news also comes alongside the rise of a new Covid variant, BA.2.86, known as Pirola and which has recently appeared in the UK for the first time. The new strain is reportedly a mutation of the Omicron variant – however just four cases have officially been detected in the UK, although reduced levels of testing means it could already be more widespread.
Health experts have warned of a “challenging winter” ahead if the new variant is found to be more infectious than current types, however Pirola is not yet being treated as a âvariant of concern’. Officials brought forward the annual flu and Covid vaccination programme last week, in an effort to ensure the most vulnerable are protected this winter. Booking dates for jabs have been moved forward for those eligible from early October to today, with residents in care homes and health staff taking priority.