Cautious optimism over new virus figures
Lockdown measures are driving down coronavirus infection levels but the overall rate remains high, according to new figures.
The research – on more than 85,000 swab tests carried out across England between February 4 and 13 – showed that Covid-19 infections remained high but had dropped to just one in 200 people testing positive.
The findings from Imperial College London's React study show that infections in England declined markedly from January into February.
According to the study, the R number is 0.72 and the number of infections is halving every 14.6 days.
Researchers say there is a strong decline in the prevalence of coronavirus among the general population five to six weeks into lockdown, but prevalence remains at levels similar to those observed in late September.
Steven Riley, professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London, said: "This is good news.
"This is a better decline than many people would have hoped for, certainly when we were thinking about this at the end of December."
He added: "This is all very encouraging and it's definitely good news.
"The note of caution is that the trend is great, but because prevalence is high, there essentially isn't a lot of leeway."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "These findings show encouraging signs infections are now heading in the right direction across the country, but we must not drop our guard.
"I urge everyone to continue to stay at home and get your jab when you receive your invite."
A grandmother ended up in court after giving in to temptation when a post office accidentally credited her account with 100 times the intended amount.
Mandy Sloanes, 50, of Polmuir Road, Plains Farm, in Sunderland, was given £2,900 instead of just £29 in a digital transactionbystaffatabranch in the city.
The carer was immediately told of the blunder and even signed a receipt before leaving the post office to confirm what had happened on October 9, 2019.
Staff informed her that her bankwouldbecontactedtoget the cash returned.
Butlittleprogresswasmade and Sloanes gave in to temptationbyspending£1,971indribs and drabs in the four months toFebruary12lastyear,acourt heard.
When quizzed by police aftertheywereinformed,shereplied “it’s in my account, so it’s mine”, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.
District Judge Kathryn Meek heard Sloanes had had a lengthy crime-free period and told her: “You haven’t half let yourself down here.”
Judge Meek ordered her to repay only part of the money – £720 at £20 a month – after deciding full repayment would cause her undue financial hardship and gave her a twoyear conditional discharge.
Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “The defendant visited the Post Office on October 9 to make a credit transaction of £29.
“This was at a Post Office counter which transferred to her bank £2,900 due to an error, which was immediately identified by the shop owner.
“She was informed and agreed not to take out the money and she signed a receipt. Due to time, only £900 was returned.
“She was interviewed on August 17, during which she fully admitted spending the money. It was £1,971.
“Shesaidthatshedidn’task forittobeputintoheraccount.
“She admitted signing the document when told of the error.”
Jerry Armstrong, defending, told the court temptation had got the better of Sloanes in the period it took the relevant authorities to act.
He added: “I don’t know why arrangements weren’t made directly with the bank to get the money recouped, knowing it had been put into her account.”
Sloanes pleaded guilty to theft including theft by finding.