Covid: Infection rates among schoolchildren in England hit new record high

Rates of new cases of Covid-19 among schoolchildren in England have climbed to a new record high, latest figures show.

A total of 1,366.8 cases per 100,000 people aged 10 to 19 were recorded in the seven days to October 17, up week-on-week from 1,134.9.

The rate for five to nine-year-olds is 719.2, up week-on-week from 585.0.

For both age groups this is the highest weekly rate since this data was first collected in October 2020, according to the UK Health Security Agency (HSA).

Case rates are continuing to rise in all age groups in England.

The lowest rate is among people aged 80 and over, at 121.2, up from 115.6.

Rates are also increasing in all but one region of England.

South-west England has the highest rate, with 667.6 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to October 17, up from 327.1.

The East Midlands has the second highest rate at 494.0, down from 496.7 – the only region to record a week-on-week drop.

London has the lowest rate at 253.0, up from 220.5.

The rate of Covid-19 hospital admissions in England stood at 7.2 per 100,000 people in the week to October 17, up from 6.3.

Admission rates were highest in the West Midlands, at 10.1 per 100,000 people.

The highest admission rates continue to be for those aged 85 and over, at 42.2 per 100,000 – the highest for this age group since the week to March 7.