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Daily Covid cases down for fourth day in UK | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Covid cases are down for the fourth consecutive day in the UK, latest daily figures show. | |
The UK recorded 36,389 new infections - a further drop from 46,558 logged on 20 July. | |
It is too soon to say if cases have peaked, however, given that the statistics do not capture the impact of unlocking that happened on 19 July. | |
One expert said it will take a few weeks after relaxing restrictions to know for certain. | |
Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia said: "I would caution that this may just be a temporary slowing in reports before we start to see a return to exponential growth towards the end of next week as a result of the ending of restrictions last week." | |
It is possible cases will increase again, with some measures, such as the R rate, still suggesting the epidemic is growing. | |
The latest estimate of R - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - is unchanged from the previous week at 1.2 to 1.4. | |
It means that on average, every 10 people infected with coronavirus goes on to infect between 12 and 14 others. | |
Mixed picture | |
The estimated daily growth rate shows signs of a possible slowdown, however. This week's estimate is that infections are growing at between 4% and 6% a day, down from between 4% and 7% last week. | |
Meanwhile, data from the Office for National Statistics based on swab tests in the community suggests 1.3% of the population - or one in 80 people - has the virus, up from one in 100 the week before. | |
According to the ONS figures for the week up to 17 July: | According to the ONS figures for the week up to 17 July: |
one in 75 people have the virus in England - compared to one in 95 the week before | one in 75 people have the virus in England - compared to one in 95 the week before |
in Scotland it is one in 80 - compared to one in 90 the week before | in Scotland it is one in 80 - compared to one in 90 the week before |
in Wales it is one in 210 - compared to one in 360 previously | in Wales it is one in 210 - compared to one in 360 previously |
in Northern Ireland it is one in 170 - compared to one in 290 | in Northern Ireland it is one in 170 - compared to one in 290 |
The more infectious Delta variant currently accounts for almost every Covid infection in the UK. | |
A new report from Public Health England warns of a small but increased risk of catching this variant, first identified in India, even if you have had Covid before. | |
It says 897 cases out of 68,688 Delta infections recorded in an 11-week period from April to June were possible reinfections. | |