Covid cases begin to spill over from children with rates now rising in 35-50 ...

Covid cases begin to spill over from children with rates now rising in 35-50 ...
Covid cases begin to spill over from children with rates now rising in 35-50 ...

Children are beginning to spread coronavirus to their parents again, official figures suggest amid fears a fourth wave could be imminent.  

Department of Health stats show England's infection rates have been rising for a fortnight, following the return of millions of pupils to classrooms at the start of the month. But infections were only increasing in youngsters, bolstering evidence that the reopening of schools was to blame. 

Government data now show, however, rates have started trending upwards in 35-39 year olds, 40-44 year olds and 45-50 year olds, suggesting that children may have taken the virus home with them.

Experts had always warned of a fresh wave after the return of schools, where the majority are not vaccinated. In the worst-hit parts of the country, up to one in 24 children tested positive last week alone.

Scientists say the rise in adults might be the result of millions more Britons returning to offices this month, following the end of WFH guidance. 

The above graph shows Covid infection rates in different age groups per 100,000 people. They are calculated as rates to allow comparisons between age groups. Data showed 10 to 14-year-olds (yellow) had the highest infection rate, followed by 15 to 19-year-olds (green) and 5 to 9-year-olds (red)

The above graph shows Covid infection rates in different age groups per 100,000 people. They are calculated as rates to allow comparisons between age groups. Data showed 10 to 14-year-olds (yellow) had the highest infection rate, followed by 15 to 19-year-olds (green) and 5 to 9-year-olds (red)

The above graph shows the week-on-week change in Covid infection rates by age group. It reveals that cases are spiralling fastest among 10 to 14-year-olds (yellow) and 15 to 19-year-olds (red). Cases have also risen by 13 per cent in a week among 40 to 44-year-olds (yellow), 45 to 49-year-olds (green) and 15 to 19-year-olds (dark green). There was a slight rise in cases week on week among 0 to 4-year-olds (black) and 5 to 9-year-olds (light red)

The above graph shows the week-on-week change in Covid infection rates by age group. It reveals that cases are spiralling fastest among 10 to 14-year-olds (yellow) and 15 to 19-year-olds (red). Cases have also risen by 13 per cent in a week among 40 to 44-year-olds (yellow), 45 to 49-year-olds (green) and 15 to 19-year-olds (dark green). There was a slight rise in cases week on week among 0 to 4-year-olds (black) and 5 to 9-year-olds (light red)

ENGLAND COVID CASES: The above graph shows Covid cases in England. These have begun to rise in recent days in a  delayed back to school wave

ENGLAND COVID CASES: The above graph shows Covid cases in England. These have begun to rise in recent days in a  delayed back to school wave

ENGLAND COVID DEATHS: The above graph shows the number of fatalities involving the virus recorded in England. These have remained flat, but there is a lag between someone catching the virus and sadly dying from the disease

ENGLAND COVID DEATHS: The above graph shows the number of fatalities involving the virus recorded in England. These have remained flat, but there is a lag between someone catching the virus and sadly dying from the disease

Department of Health data show the infection rate among 40 to 44-year-olds was 361.2 positive tests per 100,000 people in the week ending September 21, up 13 per cent from 318.1 in the previous seven-day spell.

For 45 to 49-year-olds, the rate stood at 300.9 per 100,000 in the latest week, also up 13 per cent from 264.4 the previous week. And for 35 to 39-year-olds, the infection rate was 276.2, up slightly from 267.6 previously.

But rates were still dropping, albeit at a slower pace, in every other age group except children.

Kettering becomes England's new Covid hotspot 

Kettering is now England's Covid hotspot. Above are cases in the area by the date the test was taken

Kettering is now England's Covid hotspot. Above are cases in the area by the date the test was taken

Kettering now has the highest Covid infection rate in England, official data reveals.

The market town in Northamptonshire has seen its cases surge in the wake of schools returning.

Its coronavirus infection rate stood at 823.8 cases per 100,000 people on September 21, the latest available, almost double the rate the week before.

The surge has largely been driven by school-age children, with one in 24 in the area testing positive for the virus last week.

Experts have warned almost every child in the country could catch the virus.

The second-highest infection rate in the country is in Allerdale, the Lake District, where it is 702.2 per 100,000.

And Rugby, in Warwickshire, has the third highest rate at 686.9 per 100,000. 

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For 10 to 14-year-olds it was as high as 1,261.7 per 100,000, meaning 1.2 per cent

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