A major new study has found coronavirus cases have plummeted in England, offering hope restrictions can be eased more quickly. The REACT study, which tested 85,000 people between 6th and 13th February, saw COVID cases fall by two thirds since January. The research estimates that the R-rate, which is the rate the virus spreads, has fallen to as low as 0.7 across the country. This means the virus is now receding in England and is at its lowest prevalence since September last year.
The news was hailed by scientists as exceeding expectations and comes as new data is presented to the prime minister regarding how effective vaccines have been on the population so far. Next Monday Boris Johnson will lay out his roadmap out of lockdown, the dates of which will be based on scientific data analysing how swiftly coronavirus cases are falling.
Currently, both cases and deaths are rapidly falling across the UK, whilst almost 16 million people, representing over 30% of the population, have received their coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine data, which will be seen by Boris Johnson as early as Thursday evening, will contain the earliest dates pubs and shops should open if deaths continue to fall.
Early data from the UK and research from Israel has found a direct link between vaccinations and a significant call in coronavirus deaths.
Meanwhile, the prime minister is facing pressure to end lockdown restrictions as soon as possible from Conservative MPs and business leaders, who argue businesses cannot cope with months more lockdown restrictions.
Steven Edginton, The Sun
Read more: Boris to decide ‘roadmap to recovery’ after lockdown based on dossier of evidence handed to him tonight - www.thesun.co.uk/news/14077072/boris-johnson-lockdown-stages-hospitality-last-reopen-2/
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