The number of Covid cases in the UK is increasing again, despite the government's decision to lift travel restrictions.

• Nearly 15% of the population in the U.K., or approximately 3.28 million individuals, were estimated to have tested positive for the coronavirus during the week ending March 12, according to ONS figures published on Friday.
• Approximately 2.1 million people in England were estimated to have been infected with Covid-19 last week, which is equivalent to 4.87% of the population.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the U.K. is increasing again, as per the Office for National Statistics, at the same time the government is lifting its travel restrictions.

Nearly 15% of the population in the U.K., or approximately 3.28 million individuals, were estimated to have tested positive for the coronavirus during the week ending March 12, according to ONS figures published on Friday.

In England, approximately 2.1 million people or 1 in 20 were estimated to have been infected with Covid-19 last week, which is an increase from the previous week's estimate of 3.8% of the population.

The number of hospitalizations related to the virus in England increased to approximately 13 per 100,000 people last week, compared to 11 per 100,000 the week before.

The number of Covid cases in the U.K. has increased since the country lifted its travel restrictions. As of Friday morning, individuals entering the U.K. no longer need to undergo a virus test or fill out a passenger locator form.

The number of infections with the omicron BA.2 subvariant increased last week in England, Scotland, and Wales, while the number of infections with the omicron BA.1 subvariant decreased, according to the ONS.

The BA.2 variant, also known as the "stealth" variant, has genetic mutations that may make it harder to distinguish from the delta variant using PCR tests, compared to the original omicron variant, BA.1.

The BA.2 subvariant is being attributed to the increase in cases across Europe.

The number of Covid cases in the U.K. has been increasing, with Scotland reporting a 7% positivity rate last week, an increase from 5.7% the previous week.

The estimated increase in Wales' case rate was from 3.2% to 4.1% over the same period.

The percentage of cases in Northern Ireland rose in the two weeks ending March 12, but the trend was unclear in the most recent week, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The number of deaths in the U.K. linked to Covid-19 decreased to 814 in the most recent week, compared to 879 during the week ending March 4.

Since the initial phase of the pandemic, China is currently facing its worst Covid-19 outbreak.