UK Covid-19 cases have surged with 221,000 people testing positive in the UK in the week to 11 July, official figures show. In Europe, only Cyprus has a higher case rate – over 1,000 new daily cases per one million people – compared to Britain’s 461 new cases per million.
Much of this growth was caused by a surge in the more infectious Delta and Delta-plus variants, which now account for nearly all new cases in the UK. Government estimates put the infection rate between 1.2 and 1.5 meaning every 10 people with Covid-19 are infecting 12-15 others.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson today reaffirmed his intention to lift nearly all lockdown restrictions on 19 July despite opposition from scientists, public health experts and voters.
“Cases will rise as we unlock,” Johnson said in a statement today. “Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don’t undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS.”
Around 68 per cent of the British adult population has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with just over half (51 per cent) now fully vaccinated.
[See also: How many people will delete the NHS app as self-isolation alerts rise?]
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