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.