The news provides fresh evidence that the latest wave of the virus has peaked, while health experts praised the autumn boost campaign for helping to prevent high levels of serious illness. “It is extremely encouraging that Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to fall across the UK. This shows how effective the vaccination program continues to be and we thank everyone who has had their last vaccination so far,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programs at the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA). “However, it is still vital that anyone who has not picked up a souvenir this autumn does so as soon as possible. Vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself, your family and the NHS, particularly as we head into winter.” The total number of people in private households in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus stood at 1.5 million in the week to November 1, down 18% from 1.9 million the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS ). The current wave appears to have peaked at just over 2 million infections in mid-October – just below the nearly 4m peak reached in early July, during the wave caused by the Omicron BA.4/BA variants .5. A combination of Omicron variants led the latest wave, all of which are being monitored for their potential to spread quickly, though none have yet been designated as variants of concern. In England, the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in the week to November 1 was 1.3 million, or about one in 40 people, up from 1.6 million the previous week, or one in 35. It is the second week in a row that England recorded a decline. Wales saw its third straight weekly fall, with 72,400 infections, or one in 40 people, down from 77,500. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. In Northern Ireland, the latest estimate is 39,900 infections, or one in 45 people, out of 61,200. In Scotland infections have fallen to 107,300, or one in 50 people, from 141,400. Scotland now has the lowest prevalence of the virus of the four UK countries.
