Daily Covid cases may hit 100k BEFORE July 19

Daily Covid cases are on track to top 100,000 before Freedom Day as football fans drive a ferocious surge in infections, research shows.

The UK's largest study tracking the spread of the virus has found that cases have quadrupled over the past month.

Imperial College London's React survey, based on random swab testing of more than 150,000 Britons, estimated infections are doubling every six days.

Yesterday, another 32,548 positive tests were reported in the UK, the highest daily figure since January 24. 

If the epidemic is doubling every six days, as researchers believe, that means there will be more than 100,000 a day when legal restrictions are lifted on July 19. 

There were another 33 deaths reported and 386 hospital admissions, up 44 per cent in a week.

The study found that one in 170 people tested positive for the virus between June 24 and July 5.

But infection rates are three times lower among the double-jabbed and are mainly confined to younger adults. The study found that men are 30 per cent more likely to test positive for Covid-19, which experts believe is due to them gathering indoors to watch football.

The Government had previously presented figures estimating that cases were doubling every nine days but the Imperial study suggests the virus is spreading even more rapidly.

Infections have risen eight-fold in London over the past month, and the authors said the capital's rapid rise could be linked to Euro 2020 matches at Wembley.

Lead author Professor Steven Riley said: 'I think the degree to which men and women are socialising, is likely to be responsible.

'It could be that watching football is resulting in men having more social activity than usual. If I had to speculate about the impact of the Euros I would first think about the increased probability that people are mixing inside more.

'My first thought wouldn't immediately be to Wembley Stadium, but more about general behaviour in the

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