CORONAVIRUS infections have fallen by almost 30 per cent in the last week, new data has revealed.
It comes as the crucial R rate also slightly dropped this week, and now sits between 0.8 and 1.
Last week the R rate sat between 0.8 and 1.1, but it’s important to note that there is always a lag in data with these figures.
A further 58,899 infections have been reported today, down from yesterday’s total of 66,638 and down by 29.9 per cent from last Friday’s total infection rate of 84,053.
Sadly, a further 193 deaths have been recorded within 28 days of a positive test result.
Around one in 19 people in England currently have coronavirus, data from the Office for National Statistics shows.
Experts said that infection rates have remained high across all nations of the UK, with positive tests increasing in the South East.
Both the South West and the East of England also saw an uptick in cases in the seven days to February 5, ONS data shows.
In the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of people testing positive has fallen.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also shows that the North East and Yorkshire currently has the lowest R rate in the country, between 0.7 to 0.9.
The South East and the South West have the highest R rates, between 0.9 and 1.1.
The East of England and London sit between 0.8 and 1.1 with the Midlands between 0.8 and 1.
The North West sits between 0.7 and 1.
The fall in infections today comes after health chiefs hailed the vaccine for preventing 13,000 hospital admissions.
Millions of vaccines and boosters have been rolled out across the UK and have helped protect the most vulnerable from severe coronavirus.
The NHS scrambled out the lifesaving vaccine top-ups when Omicron reared its head over Christmas.
There have been an average of 12,031 patients admitted to hospital each week since December 13, with 10,197 in the past seven days.
The figure could have been twice as high without the booster jabs.
Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “This is further strong evidence of the vital protection being provided by the booster vaccine during this Omicron wave.
“Its introduction has and continues to prevent thousands of people from becoming seriously unwell, alleviating pressure on the NHS.
“The boosters remain vitally important as we continue to experience high levels of Covid-19, so I would encourage anyone who has not yet come forward to do so as soon as possible.”
Third jabs prevented 4,000 admissions in people aged 25 to 44, 14,300 in 45 to 64-year-olds and 87,300 in over-65s, UKHSA said.
A total of 37.6 million Brits have had their booster vaccine dose – two thirds of everyone who is eligible – and another 11 million are double-jabbed.
The jabs have kept Covid on the back foot and mean ministers are set to this month lift all remaining restrictions including self-isolation.
