[ad_1]
LONDON (AP) – Further evidence emerged on Friday to show that the latest outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK has abated, with the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 declining in most parts of the country.
In its weekly survey of infection levels across the UK, the Office for National Statistics said case rates appeared to be falling in England, Scotland and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland, the declines being most notable among younger age groups. In England, for example, the statistics agency found that one in 75 people in private households had COVID-19 in the week to July 31, compared to one in 65 the week before.
Meanwhile, scientists advising the UK government have estimated that the reproduction number of the coronavirus, an indicator of transmissibility, has fallen to 0.8 to 1.1 from 1.1 to 1.4 last week. This means that on average, 10 people with coronavirus will infect between 8 and 11 more. The lower end of the scale would mean the epidemic is diminishing.
Falling transmission rates in the UK, which has recorded 130,000 deaths linked to the virus, the seventh in the world, have taken many scientists by surprise.
Despite fears by some that daily case rates will hit 100,000 this summer due to the more contagious delta variant and the lifting of lockdown restrictions, infections have fallen to around 30,000 per day. This has resulted in a drop in the number of people requiring hospitalization for symptoms of COVID.
Many reasons have been given to explain the apparent decline in infections, including the continued caution of the population despite the lifting of restrictions, the closure of schools for the summer and the end of the European Football Championship, which had led to many young adults mingling inside.
And although the rollout of vaccines to younger age groups appears to have lost momentum, the rollout in the UK has been seen as a success. Figures from Friday showed that nearly 74% of the adult population – people aged 18 and over – have been fully vaccinated. Earlier this week, the government accepted scientists’ advice to offer the Pfizer vaccine to 16 and 17 year olds.
Scientists said the COVID backdrop in the UK remains fragile and could flare up again in the coming months after schools reopen and the weather is getting colder, prompting more and more people to stay in inside.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
[ad_2]
Source link