Covid infection rate in Scotland jumps to new record high

Scotland is seeing its highest level of Covid infection since estimates began, according to new data.

The latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that around one in 45 people in Scotland had Covid-19 in the week to September 3, up from one in 75 the previous week.

The figures, relating to people in private households rather than in places such as care homes and hospitals, are the highest since estimates began for Scotland in October 2020.

Meanwhile, Scotland recorded a further 22 deaths of coronavirus patients in the past 24 hours, the biggest daily rise since July.

The death toll under the daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – now stands at 8232.

Scottish Government figures released on Wednesday also show the country recorded 6815 new cases, representing 11.1% of new tests that reported results.

There were 977 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, up 49 on the previous day, with 82 in intensive care, down five.

The ONS figures mean Scotland now has the highest rate of Covid infection among the four UK nations.

In Wales, around one in 65 people are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to September 3, up from one in 110 the previous week, and the highest level since the week to December 23 2020.

In Northern Ireland, the latest estimate is one in 60, up from one in 65 the previous week.

Across England, around one in 70 people had Covid-19 in the week to September 3, unchanged from the previous two weeks.

One in 70 is the equivalent of about 754,600 people. At the peak of the second wave in early January, around one in 50 people in England were estimated to have coronavirus.

The percentage of people testing positive is thought to have increased in north-east England, remained level in London and south-east England, and decreased in north-west England.

The ONS said the trend for all other regions was uncertain.