Covid rates nosedive by a THIRD in a week despite gloomy warnings of Kraken chaos
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Covid rates nosedive by a THIRD in a week despite gloomy warnings of Kraken chaos
- The ONS estimates 1.5million in England were infected with Covid last week
- Figure is 33% lower than the 2.2million thought to be infected in previous week
- It comes despite warnings that Omicron variant Kraken could cause resurgence
Covid infections have plummeted by a third in a week, surveillance data shows.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 1.5million people in England were carrying the virus on any given day in the week to January 10.
The figure is 33 per cent lower than the 2.2million who were thought to be infected in the previous week.
It comes despite warnings from health chiefs that Omicron variant XBB.1.5, nicknamed Kraken, could cause a resurgence in cases.
The ONS data, for the week to January 10, suggests that 1.5million people in England were infected. In Scotland, 171,500 were thought to be carrying the virus. The figure is a fifth lower than one week earlier. Some 121,600 in Wales were likely infected, a 22.5 per cent fall. In Northern Ireland, 77,300 were infected, a drop of 40.1 per cent
The ONS data, based on the random swabbing of thousands of Brits, suggests that one in 40 people in England (2.6 per cent) were infected with Covid last week.
Virus levels also fell across the UK.
In Scotland, 171,500 (one in 30, 3.3 per cent) were thought to be carrying the virus. The figure is a fifth lower than one week earlier.
Some 121,600 in Wales (one in 25, 3.9 per cent) were likely infected, down from 157,000 — marking a 22.5 per cent fall.
In Northern Ireland, 77,300 (one in 25, 4.2 per cent) were infected, a drop of 40.1 per cent.
Michelle Bowen, head of health surveillance dissemination and strategy at the ONS, said: ‘Across the UK we have seen a sizeable decrease in Covid positivity.
‘That is a positive sign, though we must remain cautious as overall rates remain high.
‘Also, it is still too early to see fully the potential impact of the return of schools. We will continue to monitor the data closely.’