THE average age of Brits testing positive for Covid has fallen to just 29 – the youngest yet recorded.
The UK’s vaccine blitz appears to be protecting the most vulnerable, boosting hopes for a full lockdown lift on June 21.
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Data published by NHS Test and Trace shows the median age of a new virus infection during the week ending May 19 was 29.
This is down from 35 at the start of April and 41 at the beginning of 2021, The Times reports.
Analysis also shows two thirds of those admitted to hospital with Covid-19 are under 65.
The shift to younger age groups is likely to be down to the UK’s world-beating vaccination roll-out, which prioritised the elderly and most vulnerable in December last year.
It has been so successful, over-30s in England were called forward for their first jab on Wednesday.
It comes as…
- Thousands descend on London’s Chinatown after ‘vaccine bus’ promises jabs without appointments, NHS number or ID
- Next Indian variant hotspots identified by Covid symptom app – as strain now dominant
- Next 7 days will be crucial to see if Covid jabs can stop surge of Indian variant triggering third wave
- Boris Johnson casts fresh doubt on June 21 freedom day as Hancock says ‘too early to tell’ if unlocking can go ahead
- Dominic Cummings claims Boris Johnson was briefed on allegations Covid leaked from a Wuhan lab in April 2020
- New Thai Covid variant detected in UK as cases of Indian variant double in a week
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said this morning: “The numbers of cases is a matter of concern but what does give me some confidence is the fact the vaccine seems to be working.
“We’ve had 60m jabs administered, something like 24m have received both jabs, and the effectiveness of the vaccine is what can give us some confidence we can reopen on June 21.
“People are being vaccinated every day and those numbers are going up considerably.
“The other thing that’s very helpful and encouraging is the number of hospitalisations and fatalities as well is considerably lower than it was just two months ago.
“There’s lots of facts we have to consider. I as business secretary am very committed to try to reopen on June 21. I can’t guarantee that and we’re looking at the data every day.”
The latest government data shows a whopping 62,658,639 vaccinations have been administered in the UK.
This includes 38,614,683 first doses and 24,043,956 second doses, meaning more than 24 million Brits are almost fully protected against Covid-19.
Scientists calculate that 13,200 lives have so far been saved in England alone by the Covid vaccination blitz.
But despite the campaign’s stonking success, Matt Hancock last night warned the Indian variant is now responsible for three quarters of all new Covid cases in the UK.
The Health Secretary said the dominant strain is still spreading fast as a further 3,542 new infections were recorded in the latest 24-hour period.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Hancock warned: “This isn’t over yet.”
He said the Indian variant was responsible for three quarters of all new cases across Britain – and urged eligible people to go and get their vaccine.
Hancock added: “We are in a race between the vaccine and the virus.
“We’ve got to get the vaccines out fast. And that is the thing that really, really matters.”
Dr Jenny Harries also told the public: “We have to be really, really vigilant.”
Hancock revealed that of the 49 people in hospital with coronavirus in Bolton, only five have had both doses of vaccine.
And he said cases of the Indian variant remain focused in “hotspots” where surge testing and extra vaccinations have been rolled out to combat it.
Worryingly just three per cent of Brits infected with the Indian variant were fully vaccinated after having two jabs, official data revealed yesterday.
To add to the warnings, Boris Johnson said the Government remains hesitant about June 21’s ‘freedom day’.
The PM said as far as he can see there’s nothing in the data to suggest a delay but that “we might have to wait” to make final decisions in the next week or two.
A “formal assessment” of data will take place next week – as medics grow increasingly gloomy about the new surge.
Kwarteng added today: “It’s impossible for anyone to know what the situation will be like in a week or two weeks’ time.
“I can’t guarantee one thing or the other now. We’ve got to look at the data, be very patient, be vigilant.
“We’re looking at all options. We want to reopen on June 21 and we’re trying to get to that outcome but if the data suggests it would be unsafe to do that we would follow that.”
Under the roadmap, June 21 was set to be the day life finally returned to normal.
The PM had considered ending social distancing and wearing masks altogether after the jabs rollout and winter lockdown forced both cases and deaths downwards.
But the spread of the Indian variant could delay the day millions of Brits have been awaiting for more than a year.
