Covid-19 infections are continuing to rise across two thirds of England, with hospitalisations at a five-month high.

Scientists were stunned by a sudden drop off in cases in late July, despite the relaxation of social-distancing restrictions.

But a number of key indicators are heading in the wrong direction as attention turns to dealing with a potential autumn wave.

New data shows that out of 312 local areas in England, 210 (67%) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates, 100 (32%) have seen a fall and two are unchanged.

The south west has emerged as a particular area of concern, with locals warning of a ‘perfect storm’ as holidaymakers flock to the area.

On Monday, health officials said they were investigating 4,700 cases of coronavirus linked to the Boardmasters festival which took place nearly two weeks ago in Newquay.

The cases are spread across the country but around 800 are living in Cornwall, a council official confirmed.

Sedgemoor in Somerset has the highest overall infection rate, with 892 new cases in the seven days to August 19 – the equivalent of 722.6 per 100,000 people.

Yesterday, the number of patients with Covid-19 in English hospitals hit the 6,000 mark for the first time in more than five months.

Hospital admissions were up by 11% on the previous week and have been rising slowly since May.

The increase had appeared to level off at the end of July and showed signs of a small drop, but numbers have started climbing again in recent weeks.

England’s Covid hotspots

The five areas below have seen the biggest week-on-week rises*:

• West Devon (up from 247.6 to 666.2)
• Cornwall & Isles of Scilly (383.5 to 717.4)
• South Hams (277.4 to 593.5)
• Eden (133.9 to 411.1)
• Teignbridge (375.4 to 630.9)

*The figures, expressed as the number of cases per 100,000 people, cover the seven days up to August 19.

There has been a similar trend in the mortality data, which is beginning to slowly rise again after a big decline was followed by a plateau. 

There were 100 deaths recorded on August 13 for the UK as a whole, the first time the triple figure mark had been reached in precisely four months.

Since the end of July, the rolling seven day average of deaths has persistently remained above 80 but is well below where it would have been without vaccination.

The next big question facing the government is how to ward off any spike in cases as autumn approaches and when to begin a programme of booster jabs.

The Department of Health is planning for any future booster programme to protect against the virus and its variants but no official decision has been given yet on a potential rollout.

Ministers are expected to be issued with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in September.

Third doses could potentially be administered alongside winter flu vaccines to reach the most vulnerable.

Yesterday, the government announced it had secured 35 millions doses of the Pfizer vaccine to arrive in 2022, meaning current stockpiles could be used as third doses.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said the new vaccine deal would ‘future-proof’ the jabs programme.

The UK has secured early access to 432 million doses through supply agreements with six vaccine developers to date, the health department confirmed.

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