COVID-19 cases up in Britain by more than 30 per cent in last week, data shows

The number of new coronavirus cases across Britain has surged by more than 30 per cent in the last week, new data showed Friday, with cases likely driven by Omicron subvariants.

Data released by Britain's Office for National Statistics showed that more than three million people in the U.K. had COVID-19 last week, although there has not been an equivalent spike in hospitalizations. The number of COVID-19 deaths also fell slightly in the last week.

"COVID-19 has not gone away," said Dr. Mary Ramsay, of the Health Security Agency. "It is also sensible to wear a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces," she said. Britain dropped nearly all its coronavirus measures, including mask-wearing and social distancing, months ago and masks are rarely seen on public transport.

The latest jump in coronavirus cases comes after an earlier increase of about 40 per cent last month, following the large street parties, concerts and festivities held as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking 70 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign.

British officials said the latest wave of COVID-19 infections was likely caused by Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Omicron has tended to cause a milder disease than previous variants like Alpha or Delta, but scientists warn its ability to evade the immune system means that people may be more susceptible to being reinfected, including after vaccination.

Despite widespread immunization across Britain, the protection from vaccines is likely fading and Omicron and its subvariants have evolved to become more infectious.

Britain's Health Security Agency said they were seeing more outbreaks in care homes for older people and a rise in admissions to intensive care units of people older than 65.

Dr. Jonathan Van-Tam, a former deputy chief medical officer for the U.K., told the BBC that COVID-19 is now "much, much, much closer to seasonal flu" than when it first emerged. Still, he said experts should be vigilant for any signs the virus was causing more severe illness.

Germany's Robert Koch Institute also reported a similar rise in the coronavirus, with cases increasing especially among older people, children and teenagers.

France has seen a jump in the COVID-19 hospitalization rate and officials recently recommended that people begin wearing masks again on public transport.

Globally, the World Health Organization said this week that COVID-19 is increasing in more than 100 countries. The UN health agency warned that relaxed testing and surveillance measures mean it may be more difficult to catch emerging variants before they spread more widely.