COVID-19: England coronavirus infections rise to 1 in 50 people, says ONS
Written by News on 08/01/2021
The number of people with coronavirus in England rose to around one in 50 during the week to 2 January, according to latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.
According to its Infection Survey, about 1,122,000 people had COVID-19.
That compares with 645,800 people and 1 in 85 in the last survey for England, which covered 12 to 18 December.
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In the capital in particular, the ONS predicts that around 3.56% of Londoners had the virus – around one in 30.
The ONS also revealed that London, eastern England and the South East have the highest percentage of positive cases linked to the new COVID-19 variant.
In Northern Ireland, the rate of positivity is no longer decreasing as it was in the last infection survey – but it is decreasing in Wales.
The rate of positivity, however, has increased in Scotland.
The most recent data shows around one in 70 had the virus in Wales, one in 200 in Northern Ireland and one in 115 in Scotland.
The study’s sample tests tens of thousands of people around the UK – whether or not they have symptoms – but does not include people in care homes and hospitals.
The results contribute to SAGE estimates of the R number – the rate of transmission – which is due to be updated later today.
It comes as new research from Pfizer suggests its vaccine may still work on the new more transmissible coronavirus variants found in the UK and South Africa.
Britain is using Pfizer’s jab and one from Oxford University/AstraZeneca in an effort to vaccinate more than 13 million people in the most vulnerable groups by mid-February.
(c) Sky News 2021: COVID-19: England coronavirus infections rise to 1 in 50 people, says ONS
