Shawdesh desk:

UK coronavirus infections have risen slightly in the last week, with an estimated 119,000 people – up from 110,000 – now positive for the virus.

The Office for National Statistics figures, up to June 12, suggest one in every 540 people is infected. The more infectious Delta variant accounts for almost all of the cases, says Public Health England.

North-west England had the highest proportion of people of any region in England likely to test positive for coronavirus in the week to June 12 – around one in 180. Eastern England had the lowest estimate – around one in 2,480.

Vaccines are working well against Delta

According to latest data from PHE, a single dose of vaccine reduces a person’s chances of catching coronavirus and needing hospital treatment by about 75%, even with Delta circulating in the UK.

And among people who had received the recommended two doses, the chances of catching and being hospitalised by coronavirus was reduced by more than 90%.

Of 806 people infected with the Delta variant who ended up hospital in England between  February 1 and June 14, 2021:

527 (65%) people were unvaccinated

135 (17%) were more than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine

84 (10%) were more than 14 days after their second dose

As of 14 June, there have been 73 deaths in England of people who were confirmed as having the Delta variant and who died within 28 days of a positive test, and of these:

34 (47%) were unvaccinated

10 (14%) were more than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine

26 (36%) were more than 14 days after their second dose

Infections highest in younger adults

The ONS data also gives the age ranges for people infected in England, based on household testing.

Rates are low and stable among adults over the age of 35 but are rising among younger adults and older teens.

(BBC)