Covid cases are continuing to rise across the UK, with 41 coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the latest seven-day period reported by the UK Health Security Agency.
UKHSA figures show that Covid cases increased by 13.5% in the week to October 7. Covid deaths climbed by 46.4% in the week to October 2, while hospital admissions rose by 33.5%. With cases also increasing in the United States, a substantial proportion of the latest infections are expected to involve the XFG Stratus variant.
During September, the UKHSA said the proportion of positive Covid tests among hospital patients rose from 5.9% to 7%. More than half of those cases were linked to the XFG Stratus variant, which was first identified last January before spreading internationally.
The latest UKHSA Covid dashboard indicates that weekly deaths have risen consistently over the past month. There were 41 deaths in the week to October 2, compared with 28 in the week to September 25, 20 in the week to September 18, 11 in the week to September 11 and six in the week to September 4.
- Oct 2: 41
- Sep 25: 28
- Sep 18: 20
- Sep 11: 20
- Sep 4: 6
- Aug 28: 8
- Aug 21: 8
- Aug 14: 8
- Aug 7: 10
- Jul 31: 7
Despite the recent increase, Covid deaths remain below the level recorded at the same point last year. In the week ending October 3, 2025, the number of Covid deaths reached 102.
Covid, like other viral infections including flu and norovirus, generally spreads more easily in colder conditions. As temperatures fall, cases typically reach their highest levels during the winter months.
The NHS lists the following Covid symptoms to watch for, including those associated with American Covid strains:
a new, continuous cough, meaning coughing frequently for more than an hour or experiencing three or more coughing episodes within 24 hours
a loss of, or change in, your sense of smell or taste
feeling tired or exhausted
feeling sick or being sick
