England's coronavirus infection rate dropped slightly after lockdown, latest figures show

22 January 2021, 13:50 | Updated: 22 January 2021, 14:59

About one in 55 people in England had coronavirus last week
About one in 55 people in England had coronavirus last week. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

There was a slight drop in the number of people infected with coronavirus in England after lockdown measures were brought in, new figures show.

Across England, around one in 55 people in private households had the disease between January 10 to 16, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is the equivalent of 1.02 million people or 1.88% of the population, and is down from one in 50 between December 27 to January 2.

READ MORE: Covid-19: Sadiq Khan calls for airport quarantine hotels for people arriving in UK

READ MORE: £500 Covid payment for those who self-isolate is 'speculation', minister tells LBC

It comes as the Government’s scientific advisers said they believe the UK’s R number has fallen to below 1 across the UK, suggesting the epidemic is shrinking.

However they also warned case levels "remain dangerously high".

The ONS figures showed around one in 35 people had coronavirus in London last week, the highest rate for any region in England.

More than 12,000 Londoners have died as a result of Covid

One in 40 people in north-east England had Covid-19, alongside one in 50 in north-west England and the West Midlands.

The other estimates are: one in 55 people in south-east England, one in 60 in the East Midlands, one in 75 in eastern England, one in 80 in south-west England and one in 85 in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Meanwhile, in Wales, around one in 70 people had Covid-19 between January 10 and 16 - unchanged from the previous estimate.

James O'Brien caller explains why UK has worst death rate in world

In Northern Ireland, the figure was one in 60 people, up from one in 200 for the December period, while the estimate for Scotland was up slightly from one in 115 people for December 25 to 31 to one in 100.

It comes after a study called React, from Imperial College London, found the prevalence of coronavirus across England increased by 50% between early December and the second week of January.

The Government is grappling with ways to bring the infection rate down as the vaccine programme is rolled out, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson unable to rule out that the national lockdown in England may last until the summer.

PM: Too early to say when restrictions will be lifted

Reports suggested a £500 payment for people in England who self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 was being considered by ministers.

But Environment Secretary George Eustice told LBC that while “we keep these things under review”, the prospect of the scheme being rolled out was just “speculation”.

A further 1,290 coronavirus deaths were reported in the UK on Thursday, with another 37,892 cases.

Official figures up to January 20 showed 4,973,248 people had received a first dose of the vaccine, an increase of 363,508 from the previous day.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City

Pep Guardiola signs two-year contract extension with Manchester City

Captain Tom's Daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Behaviour at Captain Tom charity left ex-boss 'gobsmacked'

Armed robbers attempted to break into the star's Sunderland home.

Masked machete-wielding robbers break into Charlotte Crosby's home while she is upstairs with two-year-old daughter

Police have released new CCTV of Harshita Brella and her husband

Chilling CCTV released of Harshita Brella and prime murder suspect husband on night she was killed

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark triumphant finale

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark show's triumphant finale

King Charles performs a Hongi, a traditional Maori greeting, with Mere Takoko

King Charles shares traditional Maori nose rub greeting with activist as he launches environmental charity

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

Putin issues chilling warning to UK and US as he confirms Russia hit Ukraine with new 'experimental' ballistic missile

Telegraph writer Allison Pearson.

Police drop investigation into journalist Allison Pearson over tweet - as review to be launched over handling of case

Exclusive
Angela Rayner has paid tribute to John Prescott

Angela Rayner says John Prescott 'used to call her after PMQs to remind her to stay true to who she is'

Four men have been arrested accused of attempting to rob a mobile phone store

Undercover police arrest four men after EE shop raided by masked gang

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Its Sixth Test Flight Of Starship Spacecraft

Elon Musk pledges to fire civil servants who work from home

Seven-month-old baby mauled to death by family dog after leaning on animal while crawling, inquest hears

Seven-month-old baby mauled to death by family dog sustained 'catastrophic' injuries after leaning on pet, inquest hears

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Starmer backs International Criminal Court after it issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu

Five men charged over smuggling of migrants from UK to France in lorries

Five men charged over smuggling of migrants from UK to France in lorries following dawn raids

Rhiannon Skye Whyte was stabbed to death in Walsall

South Sudanese teen accused of murdering asylum seeker hotel worker with screwdriver 'refuses to appear in court'