Coronavirus Infections in England at Highest Level Since 2020 - FARS

(FNA)- COVID infections in England are at their highest ever recorded levels according to new research, which has been tracking cases since May 2020.

The findings from the REACT-1 study show the increase is driven by high rates among school-aged children, with one in 17 children infected between October 19 and October 29, Sky News reported.

Researchers warn the next 10 days will be "critical" as children return to the classroom.

Across England, the overall prevalence of the virus was 1.72% compared with 0.83% in September.

The regional breakdown of the data shows an increase in infections in all areas, apart from Yorkshire and the Humber, with prevalence highest at 2.18% in the South West.

Scientists say one "viable hypothesis" for the cluster of cases in this region could be related to mistakes at a private laboratory in Wolverhampton, which wrongly told thousands of people from the South West their tests were negative.

The React study uses random swab tests to calculate levels of COVID in the general population.

The study suggests infections had started to fall at the end of October, which is probably due to the half-term holiday.