There is a mixture of variants in circulation, and signs of vaccine fatigue in the population
After two winters of Covid anguish, one would be forgiven for viewing the shortening of days with a sense of trepidation. It would not be entirely misplaced.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), about one in 70 people in the community in England – an estimated 766,500 individuals – had Covid in the week ending 14 September, up from 705,800 people, or one in 75, the week before.
It is the first time since late July that an increase had been seen in England. There was also a rise in Wales, although infection levels have dropped slightly in Northern Ireland and Scotland in the most recent week, after the latter showed a rise the week before.