The latest data shows 8.6% of teachers and school leaders were absent - and 4.9% were absent because of Covid, up from 3% on 16 December.
It comes as numerous schools have told BBC News they are unable to find temporary staff to cover.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said he is making contingency plans for rising rates of staff absence.
Rates of teacher absence were slightly higher in primary schools than in secondaries, where face masks are now required for pupils in class.
In all state schools, 8.9% of teaching assistants and other staff were also absent.
Meanwhile, 315,000 (3.9%) pupils were absent for Covid-related reasons, up 14,000 on the end of last term.
The staff absences will have a serious impact on schools’ ability to remain open, particularly in primaries, where there is usually one teacher per class.
Separately, hundreds of schools across England have told BBC News they are struggling to provide cover for teacher absence since schools reopened.
Of course, COVID (Omicron variant) is, purportedly, not a “dangerous” virus - nevertheless, it’s decimating multiple sectors of society … 
