Britain's daily Covid cases have increased for the first time in a fortnight, official data has shown as hospitalisations continue to fall.
Health chiefs posted 29,312 new infections today, an increase of six per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 27,734. It is the first time the cases have risen week-on-week since July 27, when they were 44,104.
The jump comes amid experts' concerns the recent fall in people testing positive for the virus was beginning to flatline.
Another 119 Covid deaths were also recorded today, increasing 30.8 per cent on the 91 victims recorded last week.
But the number of people being admitted to hospital with the virus is continuing to fall. Admissions dropped 19.1 per cent to 668 on Saturday — the latest data figures are available for.
It is the fifth day in a row hospitalisations fell week-on-week in a glimmer of hope Britain may be turning a corner in the amount of severe disease caused by the third wave.
The fall in admission can be explained in part by the effect of Britain's successful vaccine drive. Some 29,508 first doses were given out yesterday, taking the total amount of adults to have had a jab up to 46.9million — 88.7 per cent of the population.
Meanwhile another 143,002 second doses were put in people's arms, meaning 38.7million (73.2 per cent of adults) are now fully protected against the virus.
It comes as the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government on the vaccine rollout, announced 16- to 17-year-olds will now be offered a first jab.
