The UK’s latest coronavirus wave has peaked and is now falling, official figures show.
There were 501,629 cases in the week ending March 31, a 17% drop from the week before.
The wave, linked to the highly contagious Omicron sub-variant BA.2, is now subsiding in all regions of the UK, the data shows.
At a regional level, Northern Ireland saw the biggest fall, with case numbers dropping by more than a third (36%) week-on-week.
Scotland still had the highest overall case rate in the week to March 31, with 1,071 cases per 100,000 residents - but this was a 24% fall from the week before.
The second highest rate was in South West England, with 980 cases per 100,000 residents.
The lowest case rate was in Wales, with 322 cases per 100,000 residents - although in Wales, lateral flow test results are not counted in the case numbers.
In Birmingham, cases fell by 2.8% in the last week.
There were 5233 new cases of Covid diagnosed in the week ending March 31, compared with 5381 the week before.
The BA.2 wave has seen case rates hit the second highest level in the pandemic so far, after the Omicron wave of the past winter.
The high infection rates, and the resulting absences, are still causing disruption in schools and workplaces.
Across the UK, hospitalisations remain at high levels, although they are lower than the numbers seen during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
BA.2 was given the nickname ‘stealth Omicron’ because it was more difficult to tell it apart from the Delta variant.
Experts believe the increased contagiousness of the sub-variant is a key reason for the current wave, alongside the waning effectiveness of boosters and the lifting of many restrictions.
At neighbourhood level, Covid-19 case rates have been published for the week to 1
The figures include people infected with Covid-19 for the first time as well as reinfections.
Here are the neighbourhoods in Birmingham with the biggest rise in case rates in the past week.
1. Balsall Heath West & Kingswood Road
Balsall Heath West & Kingswood Road has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 142.9% from 99.2 cases per 100,000 people to 241.0 Photo: Google Street View
2. Handsworth South
Handsworth South has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 116.7% from 103.2 cases per 100,000 people to 223.6 Photo: Google Street View
3. Middlemore
Middlemore has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 81.9% from 101.5 cases per 100,000 people to 184.6 Photo: Google Street View
4. Bromford
Bromford has seen case rates of positive Covid cases rise by 81.8% from 194.8 cases per 100,000 people to 354.2 Photo: Google Street View