Covid warning sign
(Picture: PA Wire)The UK recorded 10,476 new coronavirus cases on Friday as the Delta variant fuels a fresh surge in infections.
Eleven people have died from the disease in 24 hours taking the total to 127,956.
Hospitalisations from the Delta variant have almost doubled in one week. As of June 14, 806 people were admitted to hospital with the new strain, a rise of 423 on the previous week.
According to data by Public Health England, there has been a 79 per cent increase in cases of the Delta variant in one week.
Unvaccinated young people are thought to be driving a rise in transmissions.
Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “The increase is primarily in younger age groups, a large proportion of which were unvaccinated but are now being invited to receive the vaccine.
“The vaccination programme and the care that we are all taking to follow the guidance are continuing to save lives.
“Please make sure that you come forward to receive both doses of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible. Don’t drop your guard – practice hands, face, space, fresh air at all times,” she added.
Her comments came as the R rate in England was revealed to be unchanged from last week and is between 1.2 and 1.4, according to the latest Government figures.
The coronavirus rate, or R, represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.
When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially but when it is below 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking.
An R number between 1.2 and 1.4 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 14 other people.
