Glimmer of hope as infections in Covid hotpots fall despite

by

Glimmer of hope as infections in Covid hotpots fall despite one in every 100 Britons now becoming infected each day

  • More than 50,000 people are now becoming infected with coronavirus each day
  • But cases are levelling off in North East and Liverpool in a ‘glimmer of optimism’
  • Public health bosses said coronavirus infection rates were falling in Liverpool

By Eleanor Hayward Health Reporter For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

More than 50,000 people are now becoming infected with coronavirus each day – but cases are levelling off in the North East and Liverpool in a ‘glimmer of optimism’.

The Office for National Statistics said yesterday that one in every 100 was infected with the virus in the week up until October 23.

It estimated there are now 51,900 new cases a day, a 47 per cent rise from the previous week, when there were 35,200 a day, with infection rates highest in the North West and Yorkshire.

However, it suggested cases were now levelling off in the North East.

Meanwhile, public health bosses yesterday said coronavirus infection rates were also falling in Liverpool which has been subject to Tier Three restrictions.

Percentage change in coronavirus cases across London in the week to October 25: The five local authorities where the infection rate grew the most are: Kingston upon Hull City, 92.81 per cent; Derby, 91.84 per cent; North Somerset, 82.99 per cent; Medway, 77.17 per cent; and Bath and North East Somerset 69.72 per cent

In the seven days up to October 25, Liverpool had an infection rate of 475.5 cases per 100,000 residents, down from 585.1 for the previous week.

3 IN 4 FEAR CURBS MORE THAN VIRUS

Almost three in four Britons are more worried about the impact of lockdown restrictions than catching the virus, says a poll.

Young people are most concerned about the mental health impact, while a third of pensioners are worried about the suspension of cancer screening.

The results come from a poll by the Recovery group, which is campaigning against excessive Covid restrictions.

Its co-founder, Jon Dobinson, said: ‘This poll shows that more and more people share our concerns about the terrible damage lockdowns, fear and restrictions are doing.’

Pollsters asked 2,000 adults to rank their biggest concerns during the pandemic. Catching Covid was the top worry for 29 per cent, followed by mental health at 23 per cent and the suspension of cancer screening at 21 per cent. Eleven per cent were most concerned by job prospects and 10 per cent by the impact on children.

Mental health was the top concern for 18 to 34-year-olds and Londoners were the most worried about losing their jobs.

Director of public health for Liverpool Matt Ashton said: ‘It may seem as though it has been all doom and gloom lately, but these latest figures give us a glimmer of optimism.’

Separate figures from the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) yesterday said that the latest estimate for the national R rate – the average number of those infected by someone with the virus – had actually fallen slightly to between 1.1 and 1.3.

At the same time, King’s College London, which has been monitoring the symptoms and test results of millions of people through an app, said that numbers were not as alarming as other surveys suggested.

Their app found 43,569 daily new symptomatic cases on average, meaning the outbreak is doubling every 28 days.

Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College, said: ‘While cases are still rising, we want to reassure people that cases have not spiralled out of control, as has been reported from other surveys.’

Yesterday’s ONS report is based on random swab testing of more than 100,000 individuals in private households, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. It does not include patients in care homes or hospitals.

Overall, 1 per cent tested positive, with rates highest in the North West where one in 44 were infected. Cases were increasing in all age groups, including the over-70s.

The report estimated that 568,100 people were infected during the week from October 16 to October 23.

The weekly ONS report is seen by Government figures as the clearest and most reliable indicator of the spread of the virus.