Covid news - live: Cases in England highest all year as 1.5 million infected
The final official estimates of Covid-19 in the UK show infections in England have climbed to their highest level since the start of the year, figures released late last week show.
The trend in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is uncertain, though there are signs the virus is continuing to become more prevalent.
It is the last time that regular estimates of coronavirus are being published, as the long-running infection survey - dubbed the “envy of the world” for its success in tracking the virus - has been halted.
Any further monitoring of Covid-19 will be announced after a review to ensure it is “cost effective”, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
An estimated 1.5 million people in England were likely to have had coronavirus in the week ending March 13, up from 1.3 million in the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It is the highest total for England since the week to January 3, when the total stood at 2.2 million.
More than a million Covid patients treated in England, says NHS chief
16:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
In case you missed it...
NHS England has now treated more than one million Covid patients since the pandemic began, a health service chief revealed as he warned the virus still poses a risk.
Chief strategy officer Chris Hopson gave the figure on the third anniversary of the Covid lockdown, when the public were ordered to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus in 2020.
An expert has also suggested that were the UK to experience another pandemic, it would be possible for lockdowns to be less stringent.
Mr Hopson said: “New figures today show our hardworking staff have now treated more than one million patients with Covid in hospitals across England throughout the pandemic.”
More than a million Covid patients treated in England, says NHS chief
Covid: 10 most common symptoms to watch out for as UK cases rise
15:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
More than three years have passed since Covid-19 first reared its head and yet the virus still poses a risk to the UK.
Health authorities are yet to declare the virus endemic – which would mean it is officially recognised as having a constant presence in the country.
And though infection rates are nowhere near as high as when social distancing measures were enforced, cases are continuing to rise in some areas.
On Thursday – which marked the third anniversary of the first lockdown in March 2020 – NHS England announced it had now treated more than one million Covid patients since the pandemic began.
“While we are in a very different situation today than we were three years ago, thanks largely to the speed and success of the NHS Covid vaccination programme, we know the virus still poses risks,” chief strategy officer Chris Hopson told Sky News.
Current Covid symptoms to watch out for and how to get vaccine as UK cases rise
Cash-rich BioNTech plans to spend about $1 billion more on research this year
14:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
BioNTech plans to spend up to about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) more on research and development and buy back up to $500 million more of its shares this year, drawing on more than 21 billion euros from the now waning commercial success of its COVID-19 vaccine.
In a statement on Monday, Germany’s BioNTech, Pfizer’s partner on the Comirnaty vaccine, said it plans to spend 2.4 to 2.6 billion euros on research and development (R&D) in 2023, up from 1.54 billion euros last year.
“We plan to continue investing in our transformation with a focus on building commercial capabilities in oncology and working towards registrational trials,” said Chief Executive and Co-Founder Ugur Sahin.
Covid: Worst area for UK revealed as one in 40 Britons infected
13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
In case you missed it from Thomas Kingsley
Covid cases are rising across Britain, prompting calls for people to come forward for booster jabs.
Hospital admissions for the virus are approaching a three-month high while the latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests at least one in 40 people are infected in England.
The ZOE Covid infection survey, which has been monitoring symptomatic cases since the beginning of the outbreak, said that 1.4 million people are infected based on its latest results on Thursday, increasing from 1.2 million cases on 10 March – a 25 per cent rise.
Covid: Worst area for UK cases revealed as one in 40 Britons infected
Covid victims’ families react to Boris Johnson’s Partygate probe: ‘I missed mother’s last moments’
12:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Having missed her last moments due to Covid restrictions, Mick Yates stood two metres apart from his brothers as his mother’s coffin was lowered into her grave on 26 June 2020.
A week before, Boris Johnson had been photographed in a room full of at least 30 people celebrating his birthday at a time of strict lockdown rules.
Throughout the pandemic, countless people were in Mr Yates’ position, unable to be with loved ones when they died, and banned from hugging family and friends at funerals – if they were even able to attend.
Meanwhile, the then-prime minister attended gatherings at Downing Street, flouting the very rules he was supposed to be enforcing as part of attempts to curb the virus’ spread and reduce pressure on the NHS.
Tara Cobham reports:
Covid victims’ families react to Boris Johnson Partygate probe
Official Covid infection stats axed as cases reach highest level this year
11:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
In case you missed it...
Experts have criticised the government’s decision to axe the Covid ONS survey, which provides official estimates of UK infections.
It comes as Covid-19 cases in England have climbed to their highest level since the start of the year, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published its final report on the infection on Friday.
An estimated 1.7 million people in private households in the UK are likely to have had coronavirus in the week to 13 March, compared with 1.5 million in the previous week.
Official Covid infection stats axed as cases reach highest level this year
ICYMI: Brexit damage to economy same 'magnitude' as Covid, says OBR chairman
10:00 , Joe Middleton
Official Covid infection stats axed as cases reach highest level this year
09:15 , Joe Middleton
Experts have criticised the government’s decision to axe the Covid ONS survey, which provides official estimates of UK infections.
It comes as Covid-19 cases in England have climbed to their highest level since the start of the year, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published its final report on the infection on Friday.
Official Covid infection stats axed as cases reach highest level this year
Covid: 10 most common symptoms to watch out for as UK cases rise
09:00 , Joe Middleton
More than three years have passed since Covid-19 first reared its head and yet the virus still poses a risk to the UK.
Health authorities are yet to declare the virus endemic – which would mean it is officially recognised as having a constant presence in the country.
And though infection rates are nowhere near as high as when social distancing measures were enforced, cases are continuing to rise in some areas.
Current Covid symptoms to watch out for and how to get vaccine as UK cases rise
