Covid infections in the UK have jumped to their highest level since the summer as experts warn the current wave could be the biggest the country has seen.
Infections peaked at 4.3 million last winter during the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid, but this was topped a few months later during the wave caused by the Omicron BA.2/3 subvariants, when infections reached a record 4.9 million.
New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows almost three million people are estimated to have had the virus in the week to 28 December 2022. This is more than double the number at the start of the month and the highest total since mid-July.
Figures show that around one in 20 people in England are likely to have had coronavirus over the Christmas period, along with one in 18 in Wales and one in 16 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the prevalence of the virus is slightly lower at one in 25 people, the ONS said.
It comes as the UK is facing its worst flu season for a decade and ambulance handover delays at hospitals are at a record high.
The surge in Covid infections has not been linked to a specific new variant, but is instead thought to be due to an increased amount of social mixing and airborne transmission, particularly during the cold weather when more people are likely to be indoors.
Although experts have warned that a new subvariant of Omicron - named XBB.1.5 - could be “one to watch this year” after becoming dominant in parts of the US. The strain has been detected in at least 29 countries, but is so far responsible for fewer than 5% of infections in the UK.
Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at Nottingham University, said there is “no evidence” that XBB.1.5 is more dangerous than other variants, adding: “It might be able to escape antibodies, but that’s not the only immunity we have. Our immune system is used to adapting to viruses.
“We’d better get used to the emergence of new variants, at least for the foreseeable future. Yes, they will lead to new waves of infection, but vaccination is still proving to be a very effective weapon to protect the most vulnerable from serious disease.”
Covid can cause various symptoms that are very similar to those caused by a cold or flu, which can make the virus hard to detect, so health experts advise taking a lateral flow test to be sure. If you feel unwell and fear you may have coronavirus, these are the top 10 most common symptoms of the virus affecting people right now, according to recent data from the ZOE Health Study.
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1. Sore throat
A sore throat is the most common symptom of coronavirus by far at the moment, with 65% of infected people reporting it on the ZOE Covid symptom app. It will typically develop in the early stages of infection and drinking plenty of fluids should help to ease the pain.
2. Runny nose
Reported by 57% of ZOE Covid app users, a runny nose is one of the key signs of Omicron infection. It could also be a sign of a cold or hayfever, so it is worth taking a lateral flow test to check or self-isolate until you feel better.
3. Blocked nose
Also reported by 57% of people who have tested positive for Covid on the ZOE app, a blocked nose can be eased with nasal sprays and antihistamines. It is another symptom that can easily be confused with a cold, so you should take a test or self-isolate to avoid the risk of spreading the virus to others.
4. Headache
A headache is often one of the earliest signs of infection and is currently reported by 54% of people on the ZOE Covid app. A study in Norway also found that people infected with Covid tend to have moderate to severely painful headaches, or feel pulsing or stabbing pains.The NHS says headaches can be a short and long-term symptom of Covid and warns that headaches may become more frequent, severe and long-lasting for some post-infection.