Covid-19 infections have fallen in all 4 UK international locations for the primary time in practically three months, official figures present, whereas the variety of individuals hospitalised continues to fall.
The information gives contemporary proof the most recent wave of the virus has peaked, whereas well being consultants have praised the autumn booster marketing campaign for serving to to forestall excessive ranges of great sickness.
“It’s vastly encouraging that Covid-19 instances and hospitalisations are nonetheless in decline throughout the UK. This goes to point out how efficient the vaccine programme continues to be and we thank everybody who has come ahead for his or her newest vaccination up to now,” mentioned Dr Mary Ramsay, the director of public well being programmes on the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA).
“Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless very important that anybody who has not had their booster this autumn does in order quickly as potential. Vaccination remains to be the easiest way to guard your self, your loved ones and the NHS, notably as we head into winter.”
The overall variety of individuals in personal households within the UK testing optimistic for coronavirus stood at 1.5 million within the week to 1 November, down 18% from 1.9 million the earlier week, in keeping with the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS).
The present wave appears to be like to have peaked at simply over 2m infections in mid-October – a way beneath the height of practically 4m reached in early July, through the wave attributable to the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 variants.
A mixture of Omicron variants have been driving the most recent wave, all of that are being monitored for his or her potential to unfold quickly, although none have but been designated variants of concern.
In England, the variety of individuals testing optimistic for coronavirus within the week to 1 November was 1.3 million, or about one in 40 individuals, down from 1.6 million the earlier week, or one in 35. It’s the second week in a row that England has recorded a drop.
In Wales there was a 3rd consecutive weekly fall, with infections at 72,400, or one in 40 individuals, down from 77,500.
In Northern Eire the most recent estimate is 39,900 infections, or one in 45 individuals, down sharply from 61,200.
In Scotland infections have fallen to 107,300, or one in 50 individuals, down from 141,400. Scotland now has the bottom prevalence of the virus of all 4 UK international locations.
