Numbers of people having to go into hospital with Covid-19 in England are at their highest level in months, health chiefs say.
The total rose by 37 per cent in the past week, goverment figures show – fresh evidence of a new wave of infections.
A total of 9,631 people with coronavirus were in hospital as of 8am on Wednesday, according to NHS England – the highest figure since 3 August.
Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “This week’s data shows further concerning increases in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisation rates, which are now at their highest level in months.
“Outbreaks in hospitals and care homes are also on the rise.”
And more suspected outbreaks were being reported, she said.
Numbers of “acute respiratory incidents” increased on last week too, the latest official report shows.
Patient numbers hit a high of 14,000 in mid-July at the peak of the wave of infections caused by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the virus, then fell steadily until mid-September.
But numbers have risen in recent weeks, suggesting Covid-19 is once again becoming more prevalent, with mask-wearing having tailed off.
The latest figures show all regions are recording a steady rise in patients, with three regions back to levels last seen in late July.
Southwest England has 1,003 patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, not far below its peak during the BA.4 or BA.5 wave of 1,229.
Southeast England has 1,553 patients, close to its summer peak of 1,985, while eastern England has 1,064, compared with a summer peak of 1,432.
All numbers remain well below those reached during the early waves of the pandemic, however.
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