Covid: ONS data suggests 1 in 50 have virus in the UK

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Coronavirus cases have been falling across the UK since the middle of October, with the seven-day average number of new infections down almost 15,000. However, as the temperature starts to drop, infection rates have started to creep up again.

Covid is expected to become rifer and rifer throughout the winter, as people head indoors to avoid the freeze.

But meeting large groups of people indoors increases the risk of virus transmission.

As it stands, there are already 18 parts of the country with incredibly high infection rates.

Even more worryingly, they’re relatively spread out across the entire UK, albeit with most hotspots appearing in South Wales.

Torfaen, Wales has the highest infection rate in the country, the latest Government data has revealed.

The small borough – which is north of Cardiff and Newport – has reported more than 671 new cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people across the past seven days.

Its relative neighbours, Cardiff, Newport, and the Vale of Glamorgan, are also included in the 18 UK hotspots.

North of the border, the Orkney Islands has the second-highest infection rate – despite only reporting 150 new cases over the past week – due to its small population size.

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UK Covid hotspots where infection rate is above 500 per 100,000 people

Torfaen – 671.7 (cases per 100,000 people)

Orkney Islands – 669.6

Vale of Glamorgan – 637.9

Na h-Eileanan Siar – 615.1

North Tyneside – 594.1

Clackmannanshire – 581

Neath Port Talbot – 579.7

Caerphilly – 570.1

Blanenau Gwent – 564.1

Fermanagh and Omagh – 548

East Ayrshire – 544.4

Cardiff – 543.6

Powys – 514.9

Newport – 506.9

Central Bedfordshire – 506

Antrim and Newtownabbey – 504.3

Bath and North East Somerset – 504.2

Swansea – 503.7

Meanwhile, the Government is still pushing for all eligible patients to receive their Covid booster vaccine.

More than 11 million people have now been given a third jab, although that’s slightly lower than forecasted earlier this year.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “More than 11 million people across the UK now have the vital protection boosters provide, as we approach the colder winter months.

“I want to thank everyone involved in the vaccination programme for their tireless efforts and to everyone who has come forward, bolstering our wall of defence jab by jab across the country.

“We know immunity begins to wane after six months so please do not delay – get your vaccine as soon as you can to help keep COVID-19 at bay this winter, and further protect yourself and your loved ones.”

More than 50m people in the UK have been given at least one dose of the vaccine.

However, at the same time, the number of new Covid deaths has also started to rise in the UK.

About 160 people are dying from the coronavirus every week in the UK at the moment, compared with just six back in June.

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