Covid rises in all English regions

All seven English regions are now showing an increase in covid positive hospital patients according to the latest health data.

The South East showed the biggest rise at 39% in a week, and then East and South West (+32%), North West and Midlands (+16%), North East & Yorks (+16%) and finally London (+15%).

This comes ahead of calls from NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor for the so-called ‘plan b’ to be unveiled, bringing back compulsory mask wearing in crowded places.

Health secretary Sajid Javid will hold a press conference tonight in which he is expected to encourage people to receive booster jabs to stop the spread of covid.