Coronavirus infection rates have started creeping up in adults aged between 35 and 50, suggesting children may have started passing it on to their parents.
Figures from the Department of Health have shown case rates rising for the past fortnight, but an increase in infections was previously confined to younger age groups.
It appeared to indicate that the reopening of schools was to blame as the virus spread among the last cohort the vaccine rollout had yet to reach.
But recent data now appears to show an uptick in infections among the 35 to 39, 40 to 44 and 45 to 50 age groups, suggesting young people might be taking the virus home with them.
The Government’s latest figures show there have been a further 37,960 lab-confirmed cases in the UK over the past 24 hours, compared with 36,100 last Monday.
It is the 10th day in a row where infections have risen compared with the same day the previous week.
Meanwhile, a further 40 people had died within 28 days of a positive test as separate figures show there have now been 160,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
Data from the Department of Health shows that the infection rate among those aged 40 to 44 was 361.2 per 100,000 people in the week to September 21, up 13% on the previous seven days.
There was a similar rise among those aged 45 to 49, where the rate increased from 264.4 per 100,000 to 300.9.
The increase for those aged 35 to 39 was only slight, jumping from 276.2 to 267.6.
Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, told MailOnline the uptick in older groups was likely driven by infected children returning home from school.
He said: ‘It is likely they [Covid cases] have gone from children. Parents have protection from the vaccine, but we know the protection is not complete.’
And Professor Gary McLean, a molecular immunologist from London Metropolitan University, said the spread could lead to a fourth wave.
He told MailOnline: ‘The age groups children pass the virus on to, they’re more likely to be going back to work frequently or going out where there is no social distancing, spreading it among themselves.’
Prof McLean said that the change in weather as we head into the autumn and winter combined with a potential drop in immunity among older people could mean ‘the potential for cases to go up is really high’.
The Government has begun rolling out first doses of the vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds as well as booster shots for over-50s in a bid to keep a lid on the virus over the winter.
If that fails to keep infections down, there is a ‘plan B’ which would see some restrictions reintroduced, such as wearing face masks and working from home.
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