How rife is Covid in YOUR area? Interactive map reveals current hotspots are all in Scotland

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England’s Covid wave continues to collapse as infection rate falls to lowest level seen in in more than seven months.

Statisticians at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate that 874,400 people in England were infected with Covid in the week to May 21, equating to 1.6 per cent of people or one in 60.

The figure, calculated based on swabs taken from thousands of Britons, is the lowest logged since October — before the Omicron variant emerged.

Cases also continued to fall in Wales and Northern Ireland last week but the trend in Scotland was uncertain.

Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the infection survey, said cases are trending in the ‘right direction across much of the UK’.

She said: ‘While Scotland and some regions of England saw an uncertain trend in the most recent week, it is too early to say if these uncertain trends mark the end of recent declines.’  

How rife is Covid in YOUR area? Interactive map reveals current hotspots are all in Scotland

Statisticians at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate that 874,400 people in England were infected with Covid in the week to May 21, equating to 1.6 per cent of people or one in 60

The ONS figures show infections fell in most UK nations last week. In Wales, 52,900 people were thought to be infected — around 1.7 per cent of the population or one in 55 people. Another 23,300 individuals were carrying the virus in Norther Ireland, translating to 1.3 per cent or one in 80. However, the trend was uncertain in Scotland, where twice as many people (2.6 per cent) were infected — equating to 135,400 people or one in 40 people

The ONS figures show infections fell in most UK nations last week. In Wales, 52,900 people were thought to be infected — around 1.7 per cent of the population or one in 55 people. Another 23,300 individuals were carrying the virus in Norther Ireland, translating to 1.3 per cent or one in 80. However, the trend was uncertain in Scotland, where twice as many people (2.6 per cent) were infected — equating to 135,400 people or one in 40 people

Lockdowns saved 10,000 lives in Europe and US combined, study finds

The first Covid lockdowns saved 10,000 lives in Europe and US and had ‘little or no effect’ on the virus death rate, updated analysis suggests.

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A review by an international team of economists found draconian shutdowns only reduced Covid mortality by 3 per cent in the UK, US and Europe in 2020.

The experts, from Johns Hopkins University in the US, Lund University in Sweden and the Danish think-tank the Center for Political Studies, said that equates to 6,000 fewer deaths in Europe and 4,000 fewer in the US.

This marks a revision from the group’s first report last year, which found lockdowns cut Covid deaths by just 0.2 per cent. The team said the updated figure is down to changes in their calculations and new studies.

But they still conclude: ‘Stricter lockdowns are not an effective way of reducing mortality rates during a pandemic, at least not during the first wave of the Covid pandemic.’

MailOnline was one of only three major British media outlets to cover the initial findings when they were released back in January. Experts at the time claimed it was unsurprising that some left-wing publications avoided the story because they wanted to ‘maintain fear around the pandemic’.

Their 3.2 per cent figure is the average effect of all lockdown measures combined. When looking at stay-at-home orders specifically, the team estimate this had even less of an impact, reducing the death toll by just 2 per cent.

Their report does not look at the effect of lockdowns excess deaths, which includes people who died from other causes because hospitals were shut, for example.

It did find mask wearing to be the most effective intervention, leading to a 18.7 per cent drop in virus fatalities — however this result was based on just three studies. 

The ONS figures show infections fell in most UK nations last week. 

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The 874,400 cases in England marks a 15.7 per cent decline on one week earlier and it is the first time that infections have fallen below one million per week since December. 

Infections have now five-times lower than they were at the peak in early April, when 4.1million people in England, or 7.6 per cent, were carrying the virus.

In Wales, 52,900 people were thought to be infected — around 1.7 per cent of the population or one in 55 people.

Another 23,300 individuals were carrying the virus in Norther Ireland, translating to 1.3 per cent or one in 80.

However, the trend was uncertain in Scotland, where twice as many people (2.6 per cent) were infected — equating to 135,400 people or one in 40 people.

UK-wide data shows 1.1million people were estimated to have the virus, down from 1.3million one week earlier. This is the lowest logged since the end of November, when virus levels were creeping upwards as Omicron took hold. 

The ONS data is considered as the gold-standard way of measuring the outbreak now that the Covid dashboard is reporting figures less regularly. 

Experts had warned that the daily infection numbers had become extremely unreliable following the end of free Covid tests for the majority of Britons.

The latest ONS update also shows that Covid cases fell across most of England. Cases fell in the North West, where 1.4 per cent are infected — the lowest rate in England.

They also dropped in the East Midlands (1.4 per cent), East of England (1.5 per cent), London (1.5 per cent) and the South West (1.7 per cent).

But the ONS said it was unclear whether cases were rising or falling in the West Midlands (1.7 per cent), the North East (2.1 per cent), Yorkshire and The Humber (1.7 per cent) and the South East (1.8 per cent).

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Covid rates also fell in almost all age groups, with infection levels lowest among 11 to 15-year-olds (0.8 per cent), followed by two to 10-year-olds (1 per cent) and 16 to 24-year-olds (1.3 per cent).

The trend in cases was uncertain among 25 to 34-year-olds (2.1 per cent) where Covid prevalence appeared to be highest. Virus rates were slightly lower among the over-70s (1.8 per cent), 50 to 69-year-olds (1.9 per cent) and 35 to 49-year-olds (1.6 per cent).

The latest ONS update also shows that Covid cases fell across most of England. Cases fell in the North West, where 1.4 per cent are infected — the lowest rate in England. They also dropped in the East Midlands (1.4 per cent), East of England (1.5 per cent), London (1.5 per cent) and the South West (1.7 per cent). But the ONS said it was unclear whether cases were rising or falling in the West Midlands (1.7 per cent), the North East (2.1 per cent), Yorkshire and The Humber (1.7 per cent) and the South East (1.8 per cent)

The latest ONS update also shows that Covid cases fell across most of England. Cases fell in the North West, where 1.4 per cent are infected — the lowest rate in England. They also dropped in the East Midlands (1.4 per cent), East of England (1.5 per cent), London (1.5 per cent) and the South West (1.7 per cent). But the ONS said it was unclear whether cases were rising or falling in the West Midlands (1.7 per cent), the North East (2.1 per cent), Yorkshire and The Humber (1.7 per cent) and the South East (1.8 per cent)

Covid rates also fell in almost all age groups, with infection levels lowest among 11 to 15-year-olds (0.8 per cent), followed by two to 10-year-olds (1 per cent) and 16 to 24-year-olds (1.3 per cent). The trend in cases was uncertain among 25 to 34-year-olds (2.1 per cent) where Covid prevalence appeared to be highest. Virus rates were slightly lower among the over-70s (1.8 per cent), 50 to 69-year-olds (1.9 per cent) and 35 to 49-year-olds (1.6 per cent)

Covid rates also fell in almost all age groups, with infection levels lowest among 11 to 15-year-olds (0.8 per cent), followed by two to 10-year-olds (1 per cent) and 16 to 24-year-olds (1.3 per cent). The trend in cases was uncertain among 25 to 34-year-olds (2.1 per cent) where Covid prevalence appeared to be highest. Virus rates were slightly lower among the over-70s (1.8 per cent), 50 to 69-year-olds (1.9 per cent) and 35 to 49-year-olds (1.6 per cent)

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