North now ‘epicentre’ of pandemic
ALMOST TWICE AS MANY CASES AS LONDON
STARTLING new data reveals the north of England has become the epicentre of the UK coronavirus pandemic – with nearly twice the number of new infections as London recorded yesterday.
Figures from the Covid Symptom Study, a sample-based research tool, reveals the number of new cases has soared in the north west and north east as figures drop in the capital.
The study works by asking users to report daily whether they feel healthy and record any symptoms, before it produces an estimate on how many new infections there have been.
According to the app, there are currently 173,879 people have symptomatic Covid-19 in the UK.
Experts from analytics company Zoe and Kings College London experts found there are an average of 124 new cases per million people in London, compared to 215 in the north west and 225 in the north east and Yorkshire.
The study also places Tameside as a hotspot area in the region, estimating 1.3 per cent of people contributing to the survey have the virus.
Figures suggest the situation could be even worse in Wales and Northern Ireland, but experts have said they do not have enough data to draw a conclusive picture. In both countries the number of infections could be as high as
768. In London, the south east
and south west infection rates are the lowest. It is also thought there could have been 11,300 new infections a day in the UK. However, this is 17 per cent lower than a week ago. According to data released by NHS England, there was not a single Covid-19 death in the south west. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the number of cases nationwide showed a ‘continued downward progress.’
215 New cases of the virus per million people in the north west
A FAMILY home that had been teetering on the edge after a cliff collapse has now fallen.
The house on the Isle of Sheppey had been left partially suspended over a sheer drop after a “significant cliff collapse” late on Friday.
Residents from 20 properties in Eastchurch had to be evacuated by firefighters and many have been unable to return to their homes.
Dramatic drone pictures taken by Kent Fire and Rescue Service after the initial collapse showed the sheer destruction caused, including an orange car lying at the bottom of a ravine.
But now following a fresh collapse yesterday a house, named Cliff Hanger, has now fallen, local authority Swale Borough Council said.
The tragedy has been attributed to the “devastating impacts of coastal erosion” by the fire service. There are fears that there could be further cliff collapses at the site.
A council spokesman said: “There has been further collapse at the site this morning, and the Cliff Hanger property has now fallen.
“Neighbouring properties are currently being inspected to assess the impact of this latest fall, and we are urging people to stay away from the area in case of further collapses.”
Fifteen people from four households remain in temporary accommodation while the incident goes on. Swale Borough Council staff are trying to find them somewhere safe to live closer to their homes.
THE two-metre social distancing rule is remaining in place, the Government has said, despite calls from MPs for the distance to be reduced.
Several MPs including former environment secretary Theresa Villiers had called for the distance to be reduced in line with some other countries’ rules to save jobs and help the hospitality sector reopen.
Places such as theatres, pubs and entertainment venues could be hit hard by the current two-metre rule, which would severely restrict the number of patrons allowed inside and the staff needed.
On May 27, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had asked members of the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) to review the guidance.
However, yesterday Number 10 said the Government believes the two-metre rule should remain in place.
It comes after a new study suggested physical distancing of at least one metre lowers the risk of coronavirus transmission, but distances of two metres could be more effective.
Researchers found that keeping a distance of more than one metre from other people was associated with a much lower risk of infection compared with less than one metre.
The risk of infection when people stand more than a metre away from the infected individual was found to be 3%, and 13% if within a metre.
However, according to the analysis published in The Lancet, modelling suggests for every extra metre further away up to three metres, the risk of infection or transmission may halve.
Following the research, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) stressed the “vital” importance of the twometre distance as more businesses prepare to open.
The professional body, which represents those who work in environmental health roles such as in the food, housing and transport industries, urged the Government to maintain the two-metre guidance especially as “riskier” businesses including pubs prepare to open.
CIEH Wales director Kate Thompson said: “The World Health Organisation advice for distances of at least one metre to be maintained, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, has led to strong pressure from certain industries to reduce social distancing between individuals from the current two metres.
“However, this advice was only ever an absolute minimum, rather than a safe distance, and new evidence published today supports this longer distance.”
In The Lancet study, researchers looked at data from nine studies across Sars, Mers and Covid-19, including 7,782 participants.
According to the researchers, keeping at least one metre from other people as well as wearing face coverings and eye protection, in and outside of healthcare settings, could be the best way to reduce the chance of viral infection or transmission of Covid-19.