COVID cases have risen for the first time in two months, according to the latest figures.
The increase is likely to be caused by case increases compatible with the original Omicron BA.1 variant and the newer BA.4 and BA.5 variants, the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) said.
A total of 989,800 people in private households were infected with the virus last week, up from 953,900 the previous week.
This is the first time that total infections have increased week by week since the end of March, when the figure reached a record 4.9 million at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave.
Infections are on the rise in all four nations
All four nations have seen an increase in infections, although the ONS describes the trend in Scotland and Wales as “uncertain”.
The ONS tweeted on Friday that it is estimated that one in 70 people (not including hospitals, residences or communal establishments) in England had COVID as of June 2 this year, equivalent to 797,500.
The data, obtained from the COVID infection survey, found that one in 40 (124,100) in Scotland was likely to have the virus last week, compared to 105,900 or one in 50.
In Wales, it is estimated that one in 75 people in Wales tested positive, the equivalent of 40,500, a slight increase of 39,600.
Infections in Northern Ireland have risen for the second week in a row to 27,700 or one in 65, from 24,300 to one in 75.
“In the four countries of the United Kingdom, the percentage of people who tested positive for Covid-19 compatible with Omicron variants BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5 increased the week ending 2 June 2022, “the ONS said.
Positive cases have increased in people aged 35 to 49, with early signs of an increase in students aged 12 to 24 years.
The percentage of people who tested positive fell in people aged 50 to 69 and over 70 in the fortnight prior to June 2.
Omicron BA.1 is the original variant of Omicron that saw an increase in infections in the UK in December and early January this year.
The newest variants, BA.4 and BA.5, were recently classified as “worrying variants” by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA).