Covid-19 infections in England have jumped by 34 per cent in a week as new Omicron variants drive a wave of new cases across the UK, according to the weekly survey by the Office for National Statistics.

More than one in 30 people in the UK are carrying the virus, according to ONS, with half a million more people infected than a week earlier.

The data released on Friday, covering the week to June 24, show that an estimated 1.8mn people — 3.35 per cent of the population — in England would test positive for Covid.

Scotland remains the nation hit hardest by the surge in infections, with an estimated 288,200 Covid infections — representing 5.47 per cent of the population. The Scottish total is up 15 per cent on the week before.

In Wales 3.87 per cent of people, and in Northern Ireland 3.87 per cent would test positive for Covid, ONS found.

Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: “Across the UK we’ve seen a continued increase of over half a million infections, likely caused by the growth of BA. 4 and BA. 5 variants.”

The virus is spreading fast, even though between 97 and 98 per cent of people across the UK have antibodies against the virus from vaccinations or previous infections, according to ONS.

But this existing immunity is protecting the vast majority of people from developing severe infections. While hospital admissions are rising, the numbers requiring intensive care because of Covid remain “very low”.