Covid-19 infections in most of the UK remain near or at record levels, with only Scotland seeing a drop in numbers, new figures show.
Some 4.88 million people in private households in the UK are estimated to have had the virus last week, down very slightly from a record 4.91 million in the previous week.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which compiles the figures, said it is too early to say if infections have peaked in England and Scotland.
In England, around one in 13 people were likely to test positive for Covid-19 in the week to 2 April, or 4.1 million people - unchanged from the week to 26 March.
Meanwhile, in Wales, the estimate is up from one in 14 people to one in 13.
Both England and Wales are continuing to see record infection levels.
In Scotland, 396,800 people were estimated to have had the virus last week, or around one in 13, down from one in 12 the previous week.
And in Northern Ireland, the ONS described the trend as "uncertain", with one in 16 people infected - down from one in 15.
Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the ONS Covid survey, said: "While infections remain high, there are early signs in our latest data that they may no longer be increasing in some parts of the UK.
"Across English regions, there is a mixed picture in trends and we have seen a welcome decrease in Scotland.
"However, rates in Wales continue to rise and the trend in Northern Ireland is uncertain.
"It is too early to say if infections have peaked in England and Scotland. We will continue to monitor the data closely."
Shanghai widens Covid testing, more cities impose curbs
Shanghai announced a record 21,000 new cases and a third consecutive day of Covid testing as a lockdown of its 26 million people showed no sign of easing and Chinese cities tightened curbs - even in places with no recent infections.
Beijing intervened in Shanghai after the failure of its slice-and-grid approach, and insists that the country stick to its elimination approach to Covid, which it says is essential to keeping death rates low and preventing its medical system from breaking down.
Local authorities across China, which mostly managed to keep Covid at bay for the last two years, are stepping up coronavirus control measures, including movement restrictions, mass testing and new quarantine centres.
Cities that jumped into action this week included Zhengzhou, in central Henan province, which on Thursday said it would test all 12.6 million residents after finding a few asymptomatic cases in recent days.
Beijing has strengthened regular screening for employees in the city's key sectors, requiring all staff at elderly care agencies, schools and institutions handling imported goods to take tests at least once a week.
In Shizong county in southwest China's Yunnan province, shops were shut, transport suspended and residents barred from leaving their towns or villages after an asymptomatic person returned home from Shanghai and infected a household member.
Nomura this week estimated that 23 Chinese cities have implemented either full or partial lockdowns. The cities collectively are home to an estimated 193 million people and contribute 22% of China's GDP. These include Changchun, a major manufacturing hub that has been locked down for 28 days.
Ernan Cui, an analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics who studies Covid policies announced by China's 100 largest cities, said most were choosing to keep restrictions in place even after case numbers returned to zero.
"The extremely widespread Covid restrictions beyond Shanghai, and the risk-averse attitude of both central and local government officials, suggest that the economic impact of the various lockdowns will not ease in a matter of days or even weeks," she said in a note.
Stories of crowded and unsanitary central quarantine centres and fears of family separation have driven calls for home quarantine in Shanghai and for China to review its "dynamic clearance" approach.
Although the government has not acceded to these requests, it has started allowing some close contacts to isolate at home and on Wednesday eased its policy of separating infected children from their parents. It is also transferring some patients to neighbouring provinces.
However, food supply remains a concern with residents, due to a shortage of couriers.
Shanghai has not indicated when it may lift its lockdown.
Late on Thursday, the chief epidemiologist at the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said on its Weibo account that action taken in Shanghai had to be "thunderous" to cut off the chain of transmission.
In theory, he said, if multiple rounds of PCR testing were conducted in mega-cities with populations as large as 27 million within 2-3 days, they could reach zero cases "on the community level" within ten days to two weeks.
"As long as these measures are implemented well, our country's severe coronavirus epidemic situation will soon improve," he said.
Pelosi is latest high-profile Covid case in Washington
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, has tested positive for Covid-19, her spokesman said, making her the latest Washington power player to catch the virus.
The 82-year-old lawmaker from California, who is second in line to the presidency, is vaccinated and boosted and is currently asymptomatic, her spokesman Drew Hammill said on Twitter.
Ms Pelosi, who attended two White House events this week with President Joe Biden, is among several high-profile Covid cases in the US capital.
Among those reporting a positive test yesterday were Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, two senators -- Maine Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Raphael Warnock of Georgia -- and House Democrat Angie Craig of Minnesota.
At least two members of Mr Biden's cabinet - Attorney General Merrick Garland, 69, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, 50 - and several lawmakers tested positive for the coronavirus this week after attending a gala dinner in Washington last weekend. Ms Collins also attended the event.
About half a dozen journalists and members of the White House staff who were at the dinner have also tested positive, according to press reports, along with Jamal Simmons, the communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Although Ms Simmons was a close contact, Ms Harris maintained her public schedule and presided over the historic Senate vote confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to sit on the US Supreme Court.
Ms Pelosi did not attend the annual Gridiron Club dinner, which brings together top politicians, media figures, members of the diplomatic corps and business leaders for a night of comedy.
But the House speaker was at a bill-signing event at the White House on Wednesday with Mr Biden and another event there on Tuesday with Biden and former president Barack Obama.
Most of the attendees at the White House events were maskless.
The White House said Mr Biden, who did not attend the Gridiron dinner, was not considered a "close contact" of Pelosi and they had only "brief interactions."
Mr Biden tested negative for Covid on Wednesday evening and "will continue to be tested regularly," the White House said.
"The president wishes Speaker Pelosi a speedy recovery," it said.
Ms Pelosi's spokesman tweeted that "the Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided."
Ms Pelosi cancelled a press conference planned for yesterday and her spokesman said a congressional visit to Asia she intended to lead has been postponed to a later date.
She will quarantine in line with the guidance of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, her spokesman said.
Additional reporting: PA
