[ad_1]
There has been a 43% increase in the weekly number of coronavirus cases in England, according to new figures.
In the seven days to September 2, a total of 9,864 people tested positive for COVID-19.
This is the highest weekly number since the government’s test and trace system was launched in late May.
Live coverage of the latest coronavirus news and updates
The increase comes even as the number of people being tested is stabilizing.
How coronavirus cases are increasing, particularly among young people, Boris johnson has announced that a maximum of six people in England can meet indoors and outdoors since Monday.
Positive cases have risen since early July and are now 12% higher than the number recorded when the plan began on May 28.
The number of people who underwent tests recently increased since mid-June, but has stabilized in the past five weeks.
Also in the week through September 2, about 30% of the close contacts of people who tested positive were not contacted by contact markers.
The 69.2% figure that was reached is the lowest weekly percentage since the system was in operation.
The number is down slightly from 69.8% the previous week.
For coronavirus cases handled by local health protection teams, 96.6% of contacts were contacted and asked to self-isolate in the week ending September 2.
In contrast, for cases handled online or by call centers, 61.3% of close contacts were contacted and asked to isolate themselves.
Contacts were more likely to be reached in the south-west and south-east than in the north-west, West Midlands, and Yorkshire.
Only 42% of contacts have been contacted in Bradford for cases handled online or by call centers. This is the lowest ratio for any area of local authority in England.
For the cases in Peterborough, 46% of the contacts have been reached, for Blackburn with Darwen the figure is 48%, and for Kirklees and also Nottingham the figure is 49%.
Baroness Dido Harding, who is acting CEO of the National Institute for Health Protection, has defended the effectiveness of the system.
She said: “NHS Test and Trace is working and each week we consistently reach most of the people who test positive and their contacts.
“We have reached almost 360,000 people who may be at risk of unknowingly transmitting the virus, which helps slow its spread.”
But he added: “For those who have no symptoms or have not been told to get tested, we ask that you reconsider as you could be taking a test from someone who really needs it.”
Amid the peak of coronavirus cases nationwide, the prime minister pinned his hopes on a new massive testing regimen to be piloted in England next month.
When asked by Sky News political editor Beth Rigby whether without a mass testing regime, people should agree to have smaller gatherings at Christmas, the prime minister said “it’s too early to say.”
However, he said he is “hopeful” that the new restrictions will lower the current peak.
Johnson admitted that the coronavirus rules had become “complicated and confusing.”
He said the latest measure to limit meetings, the biggest crackdown since the lockdown was eased earlier this summer, was aimed at “simplifying and strengthening the rules” and “making them easier for everyone to understand.”
Too, Scotland will limit social gatherings to a maximum of six people from two households. – both indoors and outdoors, Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced.
The nation’s coronavirus rules had previously established that up to eight people from three different households could gather inside.
