COVID-19 cases in UK one million again with first rise in England since mid-October
Coronavirus infections across the UK have topped a million again, with cases rising in England for the first time since mid-October, official figures show.
The total number of positive COVID-19 cases rose by 6% in the week to 21 November, up from 972,400 for the previous seven-day period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
It is the first increase in nationwide coronavirus infections since the week ending 17 October and comes a week after cases dropped below a million for the first time since mid-September.
During the latest wave, the total peaked at just over two million in mid-October.
This is well below the spikes seen earlier in the year, when infections climbed to nearly four million in July and just under five million in March.
Current NHS advice is that people should try to stay at home and avoid contact with others if they have tested positive for COVID or have symptoms.
It also stresses the importance of avoiding people at higher risk of infection, such as those with weakened immune systems, even if they have been vaccinated.
The latest figures come as experts revealed COVID can remain on some ready-to-eat groceries for days, such as fruit.
The number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England in the week to 21 November was 873,200, or around one in 60 people, up from 809,200 the previous week, or one in 65.
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Wales has recorded six consecutive weekly falls, with 39,600 people likely to have COVID-19 in the latest survey, the equivalent of one in 75 people, down from 45,400, or one in 65.
Scotland has seen infections rise to 91,100, or one in 60, up from 83,700, or one in 65, though the ONS said the trend was “uncertain”.
In Northern Ireland the trend is also described as “uncertain”, with an estimated 28,900 people having COVID, or one in 65, compared with 34,100 in the previous week, which was one in 55.
Infection rates in England are highest among 35 to 49-year-olds, with 1.9% likely to had have the virus in the week to November 21 – the equivalent of one in 50.
The ONS said that the proportion testing positive for COVID-19 in England had increased for those in school Year 7 to 11, school Year 12 to aged 24 years, and people aged 35 to 49 years.
In all other age groups the trend was uncertain in the week to 21 November.
The ONS infection survey is the most reliable measure of the prevalence of coronavirus and is based on a sample of swab tests from households across the UK.
There is a slight delay in the reporting of the data due to the time it takes for the survey to be compiled.
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Meanwhile, separate data reveals the recent fall in the number of coronavirus patients in England looks to have stopped.
A total of 4,964 people testing positive for coronavirus were in hospital as of November 30, up 8% on the previous week, NHS England figures show.
Patient numbers had been on a downwards trend for just over a month after peaking at 10,688 on 17 October.
Other figures published by the UK Health Security Agency, show around one in five people aged 75 and over has yet to have a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Data for vaccinations up to 27 November, indicates an estimated 80.8% of people aged 80 and over have received a booster, along with 81.1% of 75 to 79-year-olds and 78.3% of 70 to 74-year-olds.
A 15-year-old boy has died after “getting into difficulty” in a lake in southeast London, police say.
Officers and paramedics were called shortly after 3pm on Friday to Beckenham Place Park in Lewisham.
The Metropolitan Police said a boy “was recovered from the lake” at around 10.42pm the same day.
“He was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead. His death is being treated as unexpected but not believed to be suspicious,” according to the force.
The boy’s family has been told and are being supported by specialist officers.
The force originally said the child was 16 years old, but has since confirmed his age as 15.
In the earlier statement, officers said emergency services carried out a search and the park was evacuated.
Emergency teams were called to Beckenham Place Park on Friday afternoon
Beckenham Place Park, which borders the London borough of Bromley, covers around 240 acres, according to the park’s website.
The lake is described as 285 metres long, reaching depths of up to 3.5 metres.
It is designed as a swimming lake for open-water swimming and paddle boarding.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said on Friday: “We were called at 3.02pm this afternoon to reports of a person in the water.
“We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team.”
Emergency teams have not explained how the boy entered the water, or whether he was accompanied by others.
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