Covid-19 patient levels rise in the UK

The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is continuing to show signs of a rise in the UK, though levels remain well below the peaks reached in previous waves of the virus. Some 5,726 patients in England had Covid-19 on June 20, up 24 per cent on the previous week, government figures show. In Wales, 295 patients were recorded on June 17, the latest date available, up 20 per cent. Hospital numbers in both nations had previously been on a steady downwards trend since early April, following the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave of infections. The rise is likely to be driven by the spread of the latest Omicron variants, BA.4 and BA.5, which are now thought to be the dominant strains in much of the UK. The 5,726 patients with Covid-19 in England is around a third of the level reached at the peak of BA.2 wave. - dpa