Covid-19 infection rates fall by a third following second lockdown

Coronavirus cases across England have fallen by 30% following the second lockdown, according to an Imperial College London study.

In particular, cities in England have seen both a fall in the number of cases and a fall in the infection rate. Those in the North and the Midlands have seen the sharpest fall, with infections falling by half.

On November 5, Boris Johnson announced a four-week lockdown in England in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection and ease the pressure facing the NHS.

The main restrictions included the closure of pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops. The new rules also prohibited different households from mixing with one another, with the main message being to “stay at home”.

Recent data suggests that these implementations have caused the virus reproduction number (R number) to fall.

The R number in October had significantly risen before the second lockdown; however, by the end of November the R number had fallen below 1. Although the rate of infection is still increasing, it is doing so at a much slower rate.

Infection rates are expected to rise again due to the end of lockdown, with shops re-opening for the Christmas period.

To curb this possible increase, the Government has announced a three-tier system in England, in which there will be strict restrictions on bars, restaurants and households.

The majority of towns and cities across England will be in either the second or third tier, with only 1% of the UK remaining in the lower risk Tier 1. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own restrictions in place.