Covid in infections are starting to rise again in some parts of the UK, the Office for National Statistics warned today.
These are likely to be due to rises in Omicron variants of the disease, said the statistics office.
One in 70 people in the last week tested positive for Covid-19 in England, said the ONS, with one in every 65 people in Northern Ireland, excluding those currently being treated in hospital.
A total of 989,800 of private residents has the virus last week - up from 953,900 a week earlier.
It is the first weekly rise in total infections since the end of March when they were running close to 5mln as omicron hit its peak.
Figures in Scotland and Wales offered an “uncertain” picture of rising cases.
Rising cases will be another worry for the government as the country battles record inflation, high energy prices and a cost-of-living crisis.
Hospitality, in particular, is just about recovering from the pandemic with many places almost back to pre-virus levels but any hint of a further lockdown would be a significant blow to many of these.
Covid has also been one of the reasons cited for staff shortages at airports and the chaos for travellers looking to leave the country.
Underlining that Covid has not gone away, Moderna Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) this week unveiled a new Omicron vaccine that it claims is five times more effective at boosting antibodies compared to its previous jab.
It is looking into the potential for once-yearly boosters for the jab and has already started to ramp up manufacturing to build stocks ahead of regulatory clearance.