Scientists on the React-1 study examined about 67,000 swabs taken across England between 19 and 29 October.
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According to researchers at Imperial College London, Covid infection rates doubled in the over 65s. It happened between September and October. The researchers also caution that the virus is circulating from school children into more exposed age groups.
Covid infection rates in England doubled between September and October
Scientists on the React-1 study examined about 67,000 swabs taken across England between 19 and 29 October. When compared to September, they found higher rates of contamination in every region apart from Yorkshire and the Humber.
Covid rates were highest among schoolchildren
Infection measures were highest among schoolchildren. It is almost 6% of 5 to 17-year-olds testing positive. However, the study uncovered increases in every age group rates multiplied to 0.8% in 65- to 74-year-olds and 0.67% in the 75s and over.
Prof Paul Elliott, director of the React study stated, “Although the rates are much lower in these older and more vulnerable people, we did see a doubling of rates in that group and that’s a worry.“
The posibility why Covid increase
He also mentioned the reason perhaps it’s started from young school-age but going right across the population. By far the most obvious increase in cases between September and October was seen in the southwest.
Elliott said the study couldn’t reveal why cases had grown in the southwest, but added that the rise might be associated with issues at the Immensa lab.
They issued tens of thousands of false-negative test results in the region. The UK Health Security Agency is examining how the lab lost to recognise the problem before the public did.
Towards the end of October, the study shows that infection rates began to drop across the country, including in the southwest. However, the researchers emphasise that the drop matches with the school half-term break.
