Coronavirus R rate drops to below 1 in England
And the percentage of people testing positive fell in all regions except the North East, where rates have levelled off. The R rate has also dropped and is now between 0.8 and 1, down slightly from 0.9 and 1 last week and the lowest since August 14, said Government scientists. The epidemic is thought to be shrinking by between one and three per cent each day.
R estimates for all regions of England had declined and all had a lower range below 1 for the first time since early September. James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxford, said: “We are on the downward slope of the second wave. There can be no celebration, too many have died, but we have managed the second wave somewhat better than the first.
“The lower we get the daily number of infections, the less risk the Christmas relaxation poses.”
The ONS figures suggest the incidence rate is now at its lowest since the end of September.
There was an average of 25,700 new infections per day in the most recent week, down from 38,900 in the period November 8 to 14.
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said the data showed the second lockdown had reduced infection rates. But he warned: “We are a long way from stamping out the disease.
The R rate of infection has dropped and is now between 0.8 and 1 (Image: Getty)
“Those who argued against the stricter post-lockdown tiers, including many politicians, should look hard at this data and realise what it means. It means that, at the end of November, there were still half a million people in the UK with coronavirus.”
A further 504 Covid-19 deaths have been reported across the UK with 16,298 new cases. The latest figures come as the first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrived on UK soil.
Refrigeration trucks with EU plates were seen at the Movianto medical storage facility in Bedford, which is believed to be involved in storing and distributing the vaccine. Hospitals across the country are gearing up to begin administering the jabs from Tuesday.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens last night told the Daily Express he was confident the NHS would rise to the challenge. He said: “This is a hugely significant moment for the country, for the NHS and for the fight against coronavirus, as we prepare to roll out the greatest vaccination programme in our history.”
People aged over 80 in hospital or due to attend an appointment will be among the first invited to receive the vaccine at 53 hospital hubs.
Care home staff will also be prioritised, along with some NHS workers already booked in or at high risk.
Meanwhile, volunteers have been applauded for taking part in pioneering research to help scientists fight coronavirus.
Since March more than 600,000 have been involved in 73 urgent public health studies to learn more about the disease and investigate treatments and vaccines.
The research has led to major breakthroughs including the first drug that can prevent deaths, dexamethasone. While studies such as the ONS infection survey have tracked virus spread.
Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said: “The willingness of the UK public to take part in Covid-19 research has been inspiring. Science is the only way out of this pandemic.
“It will find new ways to prevent and treat the virus and this will allow us to gradually return to normal life.”
Care home staff will be among those to receive the first round of vaccines (Image: Getty)
Four more vaccine trials are underway across the UK thanks to tens of thousands of volunteers. They will determine whether jabs made by Oxford University/ AstraZeneca, Imperial College London, Novavax and Janssen can help stamp out the pandemic.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken part in this research.”
May Parsons is trained to give Covid-19 vaccinations at University Hospital Coventry.
As it recruits extra NHS staff, the trust is one of 53 that will open a hub to deliver the first phase of the vaccine programme.
A recent advert posted by another NHS trust called for “experienced vaccinators and support staff”.
The British public is overwhelmingly in support of the Covid-19 vaccination, with two-thirds willing to have it as soon as it is available.
Matt Hancock thanked everyone involved in the vaccine research (Image: Getty)
A survey of 2,000 found fewer than one in 10 (eight per cent), of those aged 55 or over, would decline the jab when it is offered to them.
Seventy-one per cent agreed the speed at which they were developed is one of science’s greatest achievements, the Medicspot poll found.
We asked people across England whether they would take the vaccine.
Retired Heather O’Brien, 67, from Clevedon, Somerset, said: “I will be taking it. I’m a little bit concerned with the after effects, because of the flu jab.
“But the positives outweigh the negatives. I just want it to be normal.”
Care worker Jo Sorbie, 50, from Leeds said she would definitely get the vaccine when eligible.
She “can’t wait” for life to return to normal after her 50th birthday trip to Las Vegas was cancelled in April and not seeing her parents for two months.
Some people are nervous about the side effects (Image: Getty)
Michael Jordan, 70, from Erdington, Birmingham, a retired environmental manager, said: “I would take it.
“I am happy they’ve come up with one and sorted it finally, as the last year has been horrible for me.”
Eamon Daily, 65, Stechford, Birmingham, owner of a fruit and veg stall, said: “Of course I will take it. We have got to get rid of this nasty virus – it’s got to go.
“We need to try and control it and if that’s the only way with a vaccine then that’s the only way.”
Robert Graham, 82, a retired osteopath, of Wimbledon Park, said: “Yes, of course I’d take the vaccine. Hopefully it’ll be successful. Most of the things they’ve done so far have been unsuccessful so let’s hope this time they are successful.”
Delivery driver Lynne Sellick, 58, from Clevedon, Somerset, said: “I will be taking it. I have no worries. It’s the right thing to do.
“The sooner we can go back to normal the better.
“My elderly parents will be too, without a shadow of a doubt.”
Retired council worker Hank Smith, 67, from Leeds said he would definitely get the vaccine.
He said: “I’d like to think there’s less chance of catching it if I’m vaccinated. I haven’t heard of anyone dying or being ill from the vaccine trials.”
Forces veteran John Turley, 89, said he won’t be having the vaccine immediately until he knows for sure it is safe.
Some people said they would refuse the vaccine until they know its safe (Image: REX/Shutterstock)
He said: “I want to wait. They were saying on Newsnight it usually takes six or seven years for vaccines to be approved.”
Cathleen Pagett, 71, from Birmingham, a retired finance business owner, said: “I would take the vaccine as I want to be able to walk around without a silly mask on. So we should all have it. But the rest of the world needs it as well.”
Retired Stephen Jones, 73, Bristol, said: “I will be, definitely, and my family will be. I want to get back to normal. I think I will get it in January or February.
“I think the people who won’t have it are idiots. The virus is not going away.”
Peter Gee, 77, from Hampshire, also said working people should be first. He said: “I’d be enthusiastic about taking it. I don’t think it should go down the generations first. People who are working should be able to have it, especially those in hospitals.”
