Covid weekly cases soar with 18% rise in people in England testing positive

Covid cases are on the rise as 18% more people in England are testing positive.

Official Test and Trace figures show 191,771 people tested positive for coronavirus at least once in the week leading up to 22 September.

This is the highest number since the week to September 8.

And around one in nine people who were referred to Test and Trace system in England in the same week were not reached.

It means they were not able to provide details of recent close contacts.

The number of people who were tested for Covid-19 in England received their result within 24 hours - a decrease of almost 10 per cent in just one week (In Pictures via Getty Images)

It comes after Boris Johnson met with five members of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group at 10 Downing Street earlier this week.

Jo Goodman, Fran Hall, Lobby Akinnola, Charlie Williams and Hannah Brady said he listened as they finally told him face to face the tragic stories of losing their loved ones.

The Prime Minister committed to a chair of the inquiry being appointed before Christmas and that bereaved families would have input on the decision.

He also agreed that his government would engage with families around the need for enhanced bereavement support.