Coronavirus cases fall for sixth day in row for first time since February

25 July 2021, 20:46 | Updated: 26 July 2021, 17:19

The number of new cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK has fallen for the sixth day in a row, figures show.

A total of 24,950 cases were reported by the Government on Monday and 29,173 infections on Sunday, down from the 48,161 recorded a week before on July 18.

It is the sixth day in a row that the number of daily reported cases has dropped, with average daily cases down 15% week on week.

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However, it is too soon for the data to show any impact from the ending of legal restrictions in England last Monday due to the time lag between people becoming infected and getting tested.

Some restrictions remain in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including limits on indoor gatherings and wearing face coverings in certain areas.

Government figures also show that a further 28 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Sunday, bringing the UK total to 129,158.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 154,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

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Government data also shows that, up to July 25, some 46,589,211 first doses of coronavirus vaccine had been administered in the UK, with 37,287,384 second doses.

Meanwhile, the latest case rates for every local authority in England show that infection levels were rising in the majority of areas last week.

The figures, for the seven days to July 21, are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 270 (86%) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates, 43 (14%) have seen a fall, and two remain unchanged.

Redcar & Cleveland continues to have the highest rate, with 1,785 new cases in the seven days to July 21, the equivalent of 1,301.5 per 100,000 people.