Substantial decrease in Covid-19 cases across the country

COVID-19 cases decreased again around the UK in the last week in April as the Omicron wave appears to be on the way out.

The Office for National Statistics' weekly survey of infection around the country found that 1.5 million people had Covid in the week to April 30.

That's substantially down on the week before when the estimate was 2.4 million.

At the start of April the figure was 4.1 million.

The latest official data also shows that NHS hospitalisations have begun to fall. That figure is a “lagging indicator” which means it usually follows falling case rates around a fortnight earlier.

Throughout April, case rates have plummeted.

In the UK the seven-day case rate is now just 132.8 per 100,000 people. In the North East, the rate is 157.8 – and all seven LA7 authorities are reporting rates of less than 200.

Although the lack of mass testing means these figures are less reliable than previously, they do show stark falls throughout April.

The most new cases in our region were seen in Cramlington Town and Beaconhill (33) but even that is substantially down on the numbers seen this month.

Even in the weeks since the end of free testing some places have seen well in excess of 50 positive cases a week – this is no longer the case.

Across the NHS in the North East and Yorkshire there are now 1,468 Covid-19 patients in hospital.

In County Durham, the case rate is now as low as 148.7. That's down 39.9% on a week earlier and reflects just 793 confirmed cases.

Gateshead also saw a 38.8% drop over the week, and its case rate is 161.9. That reflects 327 positive cases over the week to April 30.

Newcastle saw 461 new cases over the week, for a rate of 150.2 – that's also down 30.7% on the week before.

The picture is similar in North Tyneside where a rate of 185.8 is down 33% after 388 new cases. Northumberland saw 568 new cases for a rate of 175.4. That's a week-on-week fall of more than 31%.

In South Tyneside the case rate is down to 193.0. That's a 19.3% fall and reflects 293 cases.

Sunderland's case rate is down 25% week-on-week to 172.4. That's after 479 new cases of Covid-19 in the area.