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Covid-19 infections have started to plateau at worryingly high levels in England, scientists have suggested.
The warning is based on the latest data from the UK’s React survey, which shows cases dropping in adults but increasing among children. Transmission rates peaked earlier this month, with roughly 1 in every 23 people thought to have the virus.
This comes as the number of deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales has climbed to its highest level for 10 months.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that an Omicron sub-variant is spreading fast around the world. Two cases of it were identified in Santa Clara, California, on Tuesday.
Early data suggests that the new sub-variant – known as BA.2 – could be more transmissible than the original Omicron strain, BA.1.
In a message on its website, the WHO said it differs from the original variant in some of its mutations, including those in the spike protein.
