WHO warns about reinfection from new COVID variants

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.

Figures released by the Government show a number of areas still have reasonably high numbers of coronavirus cases – but the vast majority of places are thankfully bringing numbers significantly down. The percentage of tests coming back positive has dropped dramatically since lockdown started and continues to decrease, bolstered even further by the UK’s stellar vaccination programme.

Currently, the national average for England is 137.4 cases per 100,000 people.

The number of people dying within 28 days of a positive test has also lowered from the peak on January 19, but still remains at a high level.

Cases of the virus have significantly dropped over recent weeks but do not yet seem to be enough to warrant an easing of lockdown restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said 60 percent of people who are currently hospitalised with the virus are under 70, signalling that now is “no moment to relax”.

Current hospital admissions are in line with last April, when the virus peaked during the first wave.

The Prime Minister is due to unveil his ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown on February 22.

Schools are due to return in the coming weeks across the UK, but further restrictions are unlikely to be eased for a few more weeks at least.

Areas with the highest case average include:

England

Ashfield – 370 cases – 289.2 per 100,000
Bassetlaw – 239 cases – 203.5 per 100,000
Birmingham – 2566 cases – 224.7 per 100,000
Blackburn with Darwen – 358 cases – 239.2 per 100,000
Bolsover – 179 cases – 222.2 per 100,000
Bolton – 746 cases – 259.4 per 100,000
Bradford – 1121 cases – 207.7 per 100,000
Cannock Chases – 209 cases – 207.4 per 100,000
Copeland – 169 cases – 247.9 per 100,000
Corby – 228 cases – 315.7 per 100,000
East Staffordshire – 317 cases – 264.7 per 100,000
Gedling – 243 cases – 206.1 per 100,000

DON’T MISS
Coronavirus new strain: Four new symptoms [INSIGHT]
Lockdown ends: What milestones does the UK will need to hit? [EXPLAINER]
Covid: Who are the 1.7m being asked to shield? Do you have to shield? [ANALYSIS]

Kettering – 255 cases – 250.6 per 100,000
Knowsley – 421 cases – 279.1 per 100,000
Leicester – 894 cases – 252.4 per 100,000
Liverpool – 1046 cases – 210 per 100,000
Luton – 554 cases – 260 per 100,000
Mansfield – 284 cases – 259.8 per 100,000
Middlesborough – 452 cases – 320.6 per 100,000
Newark and Sherwood – 314 cases – 265.6 per 100,000
North West Leicestershire – 211 cases – 203.6 per 100,000
Nottingham – 800 cases – 240.3 per 100,000
Peterborough – 531 cases – 262.5 per 100,000
Preston – 366 cases – 255.7 per 100,000
Rotherham – 575 cases – 216.6 per 100,000
Rushcliffe – 258 cases – 216.5 per 100,000
Salford – 552 cases – 213.4 per 100,000

Slough – 322 cases – 215 per 100,000
South Derbyshire – 215 cases – 200.4 per 100,000
South Ribble – 233 cases – 210.3 per 100,000
South Staffordshire – 239 cases – 212.6 per 100,000
St Helens – 520 cases – 288 per 100,000
Stockton on Tees – 401 cases – 203.2 per 100,000
Sunderland – 619 cases – 222.9 per 100,000
Tameside – 454 cases – 200.4 per 100,000
Tamworth – 159 cases – 207.3 per 100,000
Walsall – 780 cases – 273.2 per 100,000
Wellingborough – 162 cases – 203.2 per 100,000
Wolverhampton – 583 cases – 221.4 per 100,000

Scotland

East Ayreshire – 379 cases – 310.6 per 100,000
Clackmannanshire – 116 cases – 225.1 per 100,000
West Dunbartonshire – 195 cases – 219.3 per 100,000

Northern Ireland

Mid Ulster – 328 cases – 220.8 per 100,000

Source: Read Full Article