Infection rate drops by 110,000 in just a week
INFECTIONS continue to fall in England and dropped by almost a fifth in a week, figures revealed yesterday.
The latest survey from the Office for National Statistics estimated 521,300 people had Covid- 19 in the week to November 28, down 18 per cent from 633,000 the previous week.
And the percentage of people testing positive fell in all regions except the North East, where rates have levelled off.
The R rate has also dropped and is now between 0.8 and 1, down slightly from 0.9 and 1 last week and the lowest since August 14, said Government scientists.
The epidemic is thought to be shrinking by between one and three per cent each day.
R estimates for all regions of England had declined and all had a lower range below 1 for the first time since early September. James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxford, said: “We are on the downward slope of the second wave. There can be no celebration, too many have died, but we have managed the second wave somewhat better than the first.
“The lower we get the daily number of infections, the less risk the Christmas relaxation poses.”
The ONS figures suggest the incidence rate is now at its lowest since the end of September.
There was an average of 25,700 new infections per day in the most recent week, down from 38,900 in the period November 8 to 14.
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said the data showed the second lockdown had reduced infection rates. But he warned: “We are a long way from stamping out the disease.
“Those who argued against the stricter post- lockdown tiers, including many politicians, should look hard at this data and realise what it means. It means that, at the end of November, there were still half a million people in the UK with coronavirus.”
A further 504 Covid- 19 deaths have been reported across the UK with 16,298 new cases. The latest figures come as the first doses of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine arrived on UK soil.
Refrigeration trucks with EU plates were seen at the Movianto medical storage facility in Bedford, which is believed to be involved in storing and distributing the
vaccine. Hospitals across the country are gearing up to begin administering the jabs from Tuesday.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens last night told the Daily Express he was confident the NHS would rise to the challenge. He said: “This is a hugely significant moment for the country, for the NHS and for the fight against coronavirus, as we prepare to roll out the greatest vaccination programme in our history.”
People aged over 80 in hospital or due to attend an appointment will be among the first invited to receive the vaccine at 53 hospital hubs.
Care home staff will also be prioritised, along with some NHS workers already booked in or at high risk.
Meanwhile, volunteers have been applauded for taking part in pioneering research to help scientists fight coronavirus.
Since March more than 600,000 have been involved in 73 urgent public health studies to learn more about the disease and investigate treatments and vaccines.
The research has led to major breakthroughs including the first drug that can prevent deaths, dexamethasone. While studies such as the ONS infection survey have tracked virus spread.
Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said: “The willingness of the UK public to take part in Covid19 research has been inspiring. Science is the only way out of this pandemic.
“It will find new ways to prevent and treat the virus and this will allow us to gradually return to normal life.”
Four more vaccine trials are underway across the UK thanks to tens of thousands of volunteers. They will determine whether jabs made by Oxford University/ AstraZeneca, Imperial College London, Novavax and Janssen can help stamp out the pandemic.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken part in this research.”