There has been a 79-per-cent rise in Britain in one week in cases of the delta variant first identified in India, Public Health England (PHE) has said.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said the increase across Britain was being driven by younger age groups, many of whom have now been invited for a vaccination as the jab rollout extends to anyone aged 18 and over.

Hospital cases have also risen, though most of those needing treatment have not had a vaccine.

The data showed that 75,953 confirmed and probable cases of the COVID-19 delta variant had been found in Britain up by 33,630, or 79 per cent, on the previous

week.

Out of the 75,953, some 70,856 have been in England, 4,659 in Scotland, 254 in Northern Ireland and 184 in Wales.

The most recent data showed 99 per cent of confirmed and cases of Coronavirus across the country are the delta variant.

Ms Harries said: “Cases are rising rapidly across the country and the delta variant is now dominant.

“The increase is primarily in younger age groups, a large proportion of which were unvaccinated but are now being invited to receive the vaccine.”

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that around one in 520 people in private households in England had COVID-19 in the week to June 12.

This was up from one in 560 in the previous week and the highest level since the week to April 10.

Meanwhile, 806 people in England were admitted in the hospital with the delta variant of COVID-19 as of June 14, and a rise of 423 in the previous week, according to PHE data.

Of the 806 admitted, 527 (65 per cent) were not vaccinated, 135 (17 per cent) were more than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine, and 84 (10 per cent) were more than 14 days after their second dose.

As of June 14, there have been 73 deaths in England, of people who were confirmed as having the delta variant and who died within 28 days of a positive test.

Of this number, 34 (47 per cent) were not vaccinated, 10 (14 per cent) were more than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine and 26 (36 per cent) were more than 14 days after their second dose.

Ms Harries said: “It is encouraging to see that hospitalisations and deaths are not rising at the same rate, but we will continue to monitor it closely.

“The vaccination programme and the care that we are all taking to follow the guidance are continuing to save lives.

“Please make sure that you come forward to receive both doses of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible. Don’t drop your guard, practice hands, face, space, fresh air at all times.’’