Covid cases soar as hotspots pop up across the UK

When the weather cools, and more people spend time indoors, viral infections (such as Covid ) are more likely to circulate around the population. Covid cases have spiked nearly 14 percent in a week according to the latest government data. The figures show that the number of people testing positive for Covid in England has risen by 1,472 in the week leading up to September 23, 2023. There are a number of Covid hotspots across the country, outside of the Capital. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the West Midlands, the North West, the North East, and parts of southern Scotland are Covid hotspots. A Covid infection can cause numerous symptoms (Image: Getty) In the midlands, hotspots include: Worcester Herefordshire Chesterfield Gedling Walsall Stafford. In the northwest, hotspots include: Liverpool Blackpool Fylde Copeland Allerdale, Cumbria. Such hotspots exist after a new highly mutated Covid variant , Pirola, appeared in the UK. After Pirola was picked up in August, the autumn vaccination booster programme was pushed forward by three weeks to protect the most vulnerable in society. While the east of England and southwest have among the lowest Covid case rates, small hotspots have appeared in East Hampshire, Gosport, and Havant. The number of Covid cases, however, is likely to be more as mandatory testing has been scrapped. These rises in the number of confirmed Covid cases have also translated into an increase in hospital admissions. In the same time period, the number of patients admitted to hospitals because of Covid has risen by more than 10 percent. Covid boosters can save lives (Image: Getty) Thankfully, this has not translated to the number of Covid deaths, which could be due to the success of vaccination. People now eligible for a free Covid booster are encouraged by the NHS to get their jab. Eligible groups include: Residents in care homes for older adults All adults aged 65 years and over People aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group.