The number of recorded Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales remains low, with no evidence yet on the impact of the latest increase in infections.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the seven days to June 17, a total of 264 deaths were recorded that listed the coronavirus on the death certificate.
This is slightly less than 284 deaths in the previous week and remains well below the 1,125 recorded in the peak week of the Omicron BA.2 wave of infection earlier this year.
The current wave is driven by the newer variants BA.4 and BA.5, which now account for more than half of all new Covid-19 cases in England.
The BA.5 variant is thought to be growing about 35% faster than BA.2, while BA.4 is growing 19% faster – meaning BA.5 is likely to become the dominant Covid-19 variant in the country soon.
But there is “currently no evidence” that the two variants cause more serious illness than previous variants, according to early research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Infections in all four countries of the UK are on the rise, with levels in England returning to where they were at the end of April.
The number of people in hospital in England who have tested positive for Covid-19 also continues to rise, further evidence of the virus’ growing prevalence.
About 7,822 patients in England had Covid-19 on June 27, a 37% increase from the previous week, figures from the NHS show.
It’s the highest total in nearly two months, but still well below the peak of 16,600 patients during the Omicron BA.2 wave.
Most hospital patients who test positive for Covid-19 are primarily treated for something other than the virus.
But they will have to be kept isolated from those patients who don’t have Covid, putting additional pressure on hospital staff.
Professor Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief medical adviser, said: “It is clear that the increasing prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 is significantly increasing the number of cases we have seen in recent weeks.
“We have seen an increase in hospital admissions in line with community infections, but vaccinations continue to keep ICU admissions and deaths at a low level.”
Death records have probably not shown a clear impact of the current increase in infections for several weeks, given the time it takes someone with the virus to become seriously ill.
In Wales, 417 hospitalized patients with Covid-19 were registered on 24 June, a 41% increase from the previous week.
Infections in Wales have risen to levels last seen in early May.