Autumn Covid numbers peak at lower levels – but flu cases are on the up

Despite encouraging survey, scientists warn of emergence of serious variant, leading to parallel epidemic

Britain's current wave of Covid-19 cases appears to be peaking at a lower level than previous outbreaks of the Omicron variant of the disease, researchers have revealed.

The news is encouraging - though scientists have also warned that a further wave of the disease could sweep the nation before the end of the year. We need to be vigilant and monitor the data with great care, all the time," said Professor Mark Woolhouse, of Edinburgh University.