Covid-19 infections among people aged 35 and over in England have reached record levels, with “notable increases” in the oldest groups, new figures show.

Prevalence of the virus among the over-70s has been at an all-time high for several weeks, and climbed again to 6.6 per cent, or one in 15 people, in the seven days to March 26.

Infections among 50 to 69-year-olds have hit a record high for the second week in a row and stand at 7.2 per cent, the equivalent of one in 14 people.

But a third age group is now experiencing record infections, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). An estimated eight per cent of people aged 35 to 49 were likely to have had the virus last week, or around one in 13.

Prevalence of Covid-19 is higher among these groups than at any point since ONS estimates began in spring 2020.

‘Rapid rise fuelled by growth of omicron BA.2’

Kara Steel, the senior statistician for the ONS Covid-19 infection survey, said there had been “notable increases” in infections among older age groups.

“The rapid rise continues to be fuelled by the growth of the omicron BA.2 variant across the UK,” she said.

Infection levels among 50 to 69-year-olds and over-70s have nearly doubled in the space of two weeks.

The proportion of 25- to 34-year-olds with Covid-19 is estimated to have risen to 7.6 per cent, or one in 13 people, but this is still below the peak reached at the start of the year.

The trend in infections among people aged two to 24 is described as “uncertain” by the ONS.