Covid dropped by 5 percent last week in England: ONS Survey finds that infection rates have fallen for the first-time since Omicron began to take off, however, 2.9 million people (one of 20) are still infected.

  • Between January 15th and February 15, there were approximately 2.9 million people infected. This is a welcome decrease from the 3.7million.
  • Because it randomly selects 100k individuals, the ONS survey is considered to be the most reliable indicator for outbreaks
  • Boris Johnson, who announced that all Plan B restrictions would be removed by the end of this month, provided promising stats 

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Last week, England saw a five percent drop in cases of covid. This is further evidence that Omicron may be on the way out.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 2.9 million people infected in any week from January 15 through February 15, an ‘welcome decline’ from the record of 3.7m.

This is the first week in which the ONS recorded an infection decline since Omicron’s launch in November. The downward trend matches that of the Government’s daily statistics. 

Because the ONS survey uses random sampling, which is more reliable than waiting for people to come forward and be tested, it’s considered the most reliable indicator about the UK’s epidemic. 

Boris Johnson announced that Covid’s legal obligation to self-isolate following capture was being scrapped on March 24th and that this could be moved forward.

Also, he is scrapping all Plan B provisions starting January 26. This means that Covid passports and work from home are canceled and face masks are no longer required in any setting. Brits can still wear them when they’re crowded.

Documents sent by the UK’s Health Agencies reveal that plans exist to end free Covid-lateral flow tests starting in July as part of the Government’s virus “exit strategy”.

Although the incidence of Covid fell by 20% last week it was still very common. 

In the last week, there was a drop in positive tests in every age group except for children in Year 2-6 who have not been routinely immunized.   

Sarah Crofts is the head of analysis outputs at the Covid Infection Survey. She stated that the latest statistics show an encouraging decrease in infection rates across the UK, and for all age groups except younger children.

“We will continue to monitor the data and see if this week’s drop continues. 

The ONS said Covid infections fell in all regions of England except the North East and South West, where the trends were uncertain.

In North East England, around one in 10 people was likely to test positive for Covid-19 in the week to January 15 – the highest estimate for any region. South West was the least affected, at just one in 25.

One in twenty-five people in Wales had Covid, which is a drop in infection rates from 169,000 to 112,000. In Scotland, the rate was one per 20.

This national drop brings together the ONS findings with other data that all points to a shrinking fourth wave.

The UK saw 94,432 additional positive test results in the past 24 hours. That’s a 22% decrease compared with Tuesday. The number of cases has fallen each week on every single day since January 6.

Since it doesn’t include those who are not eligible for testing, the ONS’ survey can be considered to be more reliable. 

Johnson had said that coronavirus sufferers must self-isolate when regulations end on March 24, so Mr Johnson could move the deadline forward.

Plans B measures to stop the spread of Covid in England are being dropped starting January 26.

According to the PM, more than 90% of UK’s over-60s had received booster vaccines. Scientists believed that the Omicron wave was at its peak.

He stated that the Government chose a different path to most of Europe. The data show repeatedly that the Government made the best decisions.

Johnson stated that people will not be required to work remotely and mandatory Covid certification will cease from next Thursday, when Plan B measures expire.

Also, the Government won’t require facemasks to be worn anywhere starting next Thursday. They will be removed from classrooms beginning tomorrow. 

This announcement comes as part of Operation Red Meat, the policy campaign launched by Number 10, in an attempt to regain the support of Tory MPs following the Partygate row.

JULY: Free lateral Covid test to be canceled under Operation Rampdown No10. 

The Government’s virus exit strategy will see free Covid lateral flows tests withdrawn starting in July, according to documents shared between UK’s healthcare agencies.  

Ministers have urged Britons to take the swabs regularly in an attempt to quell the spread of Omicron — but only key workers will be able to access free tests if No10’s mooted plan to ‘ramp down the Universal Testing Offer’ gets signed off. 

Instead, officials say an online ordering system will be ready by the end of June to direct Britons to purchase the tests, which are said to cost the Government £30 per pack of seven. 

The No10 previously stated that it would stop providing the free tests to everyone ‘at an later stage.’ These can be ordered from the Government’s website, or picked up by pharmacies. No10 has spent billions to secure the kits as part its mass-testing strategy. 

More than 8million lateral flow records were made in the span of one week, despite record numbers at the beginning of the year. Officially, however, not all of the tests are logged.

Covid cases have plummeted in recent weeks, with yesterday’s report of 94.432 cases, down 20% from last week. Boris Johnson was forced to announce his pandemic exit strategy to make the country more comfortable with Covid-like flu.

With hospitalisations dropping, even NHS consultants now claim that the end is in sight. Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital intensive care consultant Dr Richard Cree stated that “I’m confident that the worst is behind us soon.”

Boris Johnson will announce today that he has lifted Plan B restrictions in England starting January 26. This includes work from home guidance, Covid passes and some events.

It is thought the Government will continue to tell people to wear face masks in certain settings including public transport, but it is unclear if this will be a legal requirement or guidance. 

The announcement will be the latest move as part of ‘Operation Red Meat’ — a policy blitz cooked up by Number 10 in a bid to win back the support of Tories and voters following the Partygate row. Others crowd pleasing policies include bringing in the army to address the crisis of migrant Channel crossings and freezing the BBC license fee for two-years.

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