WHAT A BOOST FOR BRITAIN!
Vaccine for all over 40s ++ Infections plummet ++ Almost 50m jabs given
THE numbers falling ill with Covid have dropped to the lowest level since the pandemic began in a huge boost for the nation.
There are only 757 symptomatic cases a day in england and the chance of getting infected is as low as one in 150,000 for those who have had both jabs.
Meanwhile a Public health england report revealed infections in the over-80s have fallen to the lowest level on record. And in further good news, hospitalisations and cases continue to plummet in all regions of the country.
From today, anyone aged 40 and over in england can book a vaccination. In total, 48 million jabs have been given across the UK, including 14 million
second doses. MPs called for the lifting of restrictions to be sped up, while pressure grew for a rethink of rules governing funerals and care homes. But Downing Street is resisting calls to go faster, saying everything is on track for a resumption of near-normal life from June 21. In other developments: British holidaymakers will be able to visit France from June 9 if they are vaccinated or have a negative Covid test;
A study found that much of Europe could safely be put on the travel ‘green list’ this summer thanks to the successful vaccination programme;
Nearly three quarters of a million appointments were made on Monday and Tuesday this week as the NHS began inviting over-45s to be vaccinated;
Ministers faced renewed calls to scrap rules which ‘ falsely imprison’ care home residents.
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens yesterday called the vaccination drive the ‘most successful in health service history’. The latest data shows that it has been extraordinarily effective in slashing infections and hospitalisations. Researchers at King’s College London said the chance of becoming infected if you have not been vaccinated is just one in 45,000. Among those who have received one dose, they put the risk at one in 100,000, while it is just one in 150,000 for those who have had both doses.
The study, based on data gathered from more than a million users of the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app, suggested that infections are now even lower than they were in the summer when lockdown had been lifted. The scientists said that just 1,046 people are getting symptomatic Covid-19 across the whole of the UK each day, including just 757 in England.
The number testing positive each day is averaging 2,258, according to latest Department of Health figures. But that includes those who do not have symptoms. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the study, said: ‘It’s a great position to be in. It’s very reassuring that low rates continue despite reopening gyms and outdoor areas in pubs and restaurants, and bodes well for further relaxation of restrictions in line with the Government roadmap out of lockdown.’
Meanwhile, Public Health England’s weekly report into coronavirus revealed that fewer over-80s than ever are catching the virus. There were only 6.3 cases per 100,000 people aged over 80 in the week ending on Sunday, the lowest since the report began in June.
The vaccine rollout has slashed hospital admissions. There are 1,553 patients in hospital with Covid-19, the lowest figure for seven months and down from a peak of 39,000 in January.
Despite the positive data yesterday, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said Britons needed to be ‘careful’ and that it was too soon to hug or mix indoors.
But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said that the string of good news showed ‘we need to get on with it’ and accelerate the roadmap. A No10 source insisted there was still a need for ‘caution’.
‘We need to get on with it’