COVID-19: Cases among people in their 20s hit highest record

Latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) show that COVID cases among people between 20 and 29 years are at the highest level since mass testing began.

Between 12 and 18 July, a total of 1154.7 infections per 100,000 people were recorded among people within this age group, setting a new record for the pandemic.

According to Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, this figure is the highest recorded for any age group since the beginning of the pandemic.

Everyone in this age group should come forward and get their two doses of the vaccine to make sure they have the best chance of being protected.

The lowest case rates have meanwhile been recorded in those aged 80 and above, with a 7-day rate of 60.6 per 100,000.

The high prevalence in cases among people in their twenties has been attributed to Euro 2020, which saw large numbers of fans travelling to Wembley and gathering together to watch the football.

COVID is still here

The seven-day hospitalisation rate is also continuing to increase for England, the PHE figures show.

Between 12 and 18 July, 5.88 people per 100,000 were admitted to hospital with Covid - up from 4.55 in the previous week.

Admissions to intensive care units are also rising - up from 0.41 people to 0.51 per 100,000.

Despite efforts by the government to return to normality, Dr Doyle warned that ‘COVID-19 has not gone away’.

It is vital we all remain cautious. Remember that meeting outside is safer than inside, get two doses of the vaccine as soon as you can, isolate if you are told to by NHS Test and Trace and if you show symptoms stay home and get a PCR test. We all still have a part to play.

In the week up to 18 July, vaccine coverage in England stood at 62.3 percent for one dose, while 48.5 percent of adults had been fully vaccinated.

This rises to more than 90 per cent for all cohorts over the age of 65.