Covid-19 infections continue to rise across the UK, driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the virus.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 2.7 million people in private households are estimated to have had Covid-19 last week, up 18% from 2.3 million the previous week.
This is the highest estimate since late April, but is still below the record high of 4.9 million, which was reached at the end of March.
Covid is most prevalent in Scotland, where around one in 17 people have the virus, up from one in 18 the previous week.
This is the highest estimate for Scotland since early April.
However, infections in Scotland have been increasing at a slower rate compared with other UK nations, the ONS said.
The latest data from the #COVID19 Infection Survey show infection rates have continued to increase across all four UK countries in the most recent week, likely driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants https://t.co/Q25Zeim8Yb pic.twitter.com/QFAx3stcXR
In England, 2.2 million people were likely to have had the virus last week, the equivalent of around one in 25, up from one in 30.
Wales has also seen infections jump - to one in 20 people, up from one in 30.
In Northern Ireland, infections have increased to one in 19, up from one in 25.
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and an expert in infectious diseases, told the PA news agency: "At present, I suspect we will see a peak of infections that is greater than previous waves probably before the end of this month.
"I am not sure how high the number of people in hospital because of Covid or deaths where Covid appears on the death certificate will go, but I think it likely - but not certain - that these will fall below what was seen after previous waves."
Official data shows that the number of people in hospital in England who have tested positive for Covid-19 stood at 11,878 on July 7, up 33% week on week.
Those with Covid symptoms serious enough to require mechanical ventilator beds stood at 232 on July 7, up 10% week on week and the highest number for two months but far below previous pandemic peaks.
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