COVID cases have risen for the first time in two months, according to the latest figures.
The spike is likely to be caused by increases in cases compatible with the original Omicron variant BA.1 and the newer variants BA.4 and BA.5, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
A total of 989,800 people in private households are estimated to have had the virus last week – up from 953,900 the previous week.
All four nations have seen a rise in infections, though the ONS describes the trend in Scotland and Wales as “uncertain”.
