Covid-19 rates falling except for over-80 age group

COVID-19 rates have fallen in most regions of England and across all age groups apart from the over-80s, in the latest sign that lockdown measures are having an effect. The Public Health England data show that, although London continues to have the highest rate of any region, its rate of new cases stood at 864.9 per 100,000 people in the seven days to January 10, down from 1,043.9 in the previous week. There was a similar pattern in other areas, with the East Midlands, eastern England, north-east England, south-east England and Yorkshire & the Humber all recording a week-onweek fall. The rate increased in north-west England, south-west England and the West Midlands.

Despite the positive news about case rates, the PHE surveillance report noted that there were more people being admitted to hospitals and intensive care units.

The time lag between a fall in cases and an impact on the death toll means grim figures are likely to remain a factor for some time.

A new temporary mortuary that can hold up to 1,300 bodies has been built in London, and the Government’s leading scientist Sir Patrick Vallance has warned that high death numbers will “carry on for some weeks”.