More than eight million people in England live in areas where coronavirus may have disappeared, official figures revealed today.
Department of Health data showed 1,065 out of 6,792 neighbourhoods — 15 per cent — recorded ‘fewer than three cases’ in the week to February 24, and may even have had none at all. Numbers are suppressed when they fall this low because health chiefs fear infected residents could be identified and shamed.
The vast majority of Cornwall and Devon recorded fewer than three Covid infections. But areas with tiny, or non-existent, outbreaks were scattered across the country, including in parts of London.
MPs today called on the Government to justify sticking to the national approach to easing lockdown, saying it was unfair to keep residents in Devon ‘cooped up over Easter’ because of bigger outbreaks elsewhere in the country. Boris Johnson has pledged that all curbs will be lifted no earlier than June 21.
It comes as separate data today underscored the success of England’s huge vaccination drive. Fascinating charts showed how 90 per cent of over-85s — who are most at risk of dying from the virus — now have Covid antibodies, suggesting they have some immunity against the disease.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the rate was just 22 per cent at the start of 2021, before the jab rollout began to rapidly pick up the pace.
Other data from the ONS today also showed Covid deaths have continued to fall in England and Wales. Another 4,079 Covid fatalities were recorded in the third week of February — a 28 per cent drop week-on-week.
And MailOnline analysis revealed eight of the ten areas with the highest number of Covid cases in England have prisons. Experts warned officers are struggling to enforce social distancing inside jails.
Matt Hancock today said ‘freedom is on the horizon’ for Britons, adding they were on track to get a first dose to all adults by July. He urged the nation to do ‘whatever it takes’ to keep coronavirus under control.
The above map shows England broken down into districts defined as Middle-layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) by statisticians. The dark green areas are where there are fewer than three cases, and possibly none at all
Separate data from the Office for National statistics showed Covid deaths fell 28 per cent in the week to February 19 compared to the previous week after 4,079 were recorded, as the second wave continues to drop
But deaths from all-causes remained above the five-year average in all regions of England, highlighting the immense toll of the outbreak on routine healthcare services
In another day of coronavirus developments:
- France took a humiliating U-turn today saying it will now give the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to over-65s amid a sluggish EU jabs rollout;
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern comes under fire after criticising KFC worker infected with virus for failing to isolate as Auckland enters another week-long lockdown;
- Britain is set to be included in the EU’s vaccine passport scheme in sign of hope for holidays;
- The World Health Organization says it is ‘unrealistic’ to expect the pandemic to end this year;
- Missing patient who tested positive for the Brazilian variant STILL hasn’t been found, minister admits;
- Experts say they fear the next flu season may be worse than ever after barely any cases were recorded this winter thanks to Covid restrictions.
The data — for our revelation on prisons and on the huge disparity of coronavirus cases across the nation — was recorded by Middle-layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs).
These are roughly the same as postcode areas, although some have amalgamated several of them. Each MSOA is home to around 8,000 people, on average.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) population estimates suggest there were 8.05million people living in the 1,065 districts with fewer than three cases during the week ending February 24.
When the areas where broken down by infection rates it showed the vast majority — 4,219 or 62 per cent — had a rate between 50 and 200 cases per 100,000 residents in that seven-day spell.
For comparison, 12 per cent of MSOAs — or 808 — had between 20 and 50 cases per 100,000 residents, while a tenth of districts — or 699 — had an infection rate above 200.
While a large number of areas with tiny outbreaks are in Cornwall and Devon, many are scattered across the country — mostly focused in rural areas.
Cheshire, Cambridgeshire, South Hampshire and Wiltshire all are home to MSOAs where there were no cases of the virus.
Even Kent — which was hit hard by the more infectious variant during the darkest days of January — had several areas that recorded next to no cases.
Boris Johnson pictured on a jog with dog Dilyn today. He has said the earliest all restrictions will be lifted is June 21
In London, neighbourhoods in Bexley, Bromley, Kensington and Chelsea and Lewisham recorded fewer than three cases.
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw today called for restrictions across Devon to be eased faster amid plummeting infection rates.
‘Devon’s figures are down to 31 per 100,000 – lower than in Europe’s best performing countries like Finland and Denmark,’ he told MailOnline. ‘By the end of this month, all our vulnerable groups will have been vaccinated.
‘The Government must justify keeping my constituents cooped up over Easter and beyond, unable to see their loved ones, and our local businesses closed, because rates in Middlesbrough remain higher.’
Selaine Saxby, the MP for North Devon, previously told MailOnline that the roadmap was going ‘too slowly’ for her area.
‘I think our cases are low and we could have started local unlocking sooner,’ she said. ‘But I also think, for tourism, moving at a national pace is important.’
The now defunct Tier system — which twice failed to keep England out of lockdown — saw certain areas enjoy months of lighter curbs, with friends and families allowed to meet in restaurants, pubs and cafes.
No10 has, however, confirmed local lockdowns will come into force in England should case rates spike in areas as restrictions are eased. This would be to ensure that Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of restrictions is not delayed.
The number of deaths linked to the virus also fell in all regions of England and Wales, but deaths from all causes remained above the five-year average, which is the number of people expected to die at this time of year
Deaths linked to the virus in care home residents also fell below 1,000 for the first time this year, after 969 were recorded
The North East had the lowest number of fatalities from the virus (165), followed by the South West (268) and Yorkshire and the Humber (320). But deaths from all causes remained above the five-year average in all regions
Eight areas with prisons were featured in the 10 areas worst hit by coronavirus in the week ending February 21, official data show. All of the named prisons had outbreaks reported in local news and saw their local area’s infection rate skyrocket
Amid Britain’s fastest vaccine rollout in modern times, the Health Secretary told the Commons today: ‘This country is on the road to recovery and we have freedom on the horizon.
‘(But) we must proceed with caution because although we’re moving quickly, the virus moves quickly too.
‘So let’s not waver and do whatever it takes to keep this virus under control.’
An ONS report today revealed the stunning success of England’s jabs drive as the vast majority of over-85s in England – who are most at risk from the virus – now have Covid antibodies.
Fascinating charts reveal how the proportion of elderly residents testing positive for the disease-fighting proteins — which signal they have a degree of immunity — has changed between the start of January and now.
The figures showed 22 per cent had Covid antibodies at the start of 2021, before the inoculation roll-out began to rapidly pick up pace. But the rate stood at nearly 91 per cent on February 11, according to the most up-to-date estimate.
Data also showed a dramatic rise in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland among the same age group — but the ONS warned its estimates in the devolved nations were not as certain because they involved smaller sample sizes.
The report — which also showed one in four people overall had Covid antibodies in England, one in six in Wales and Northern Ireland and one in eight in Scotland — looked at blood samples taken from 30,000 over-16s across the country.
Rates were highest in London, where the ONS estimated 29 per cent of people had antibodies compared to just 16 per cent in the South West of England, the lowest in the UK.
As well as through vaccination, antibodies are also made in the blood when someone catches and recovers from the virus. But the length of time antibodies remain at detectable levels in the blood is not fully known, given that studies have shown they can fade after a few months.
It comes after Government analysis showed a single dose of the Covid vaccines being rolled out in the UK cut hospital rates in the elderly by 80 per cent. Public Health England research also found the Pfizer and Oxford University jabs stop about 60 per cent of people from falling ill with Covid a month after their first dose.
More than 20million Britons have now received their first dose of Covid vaccines, and about 800,000 people have been given both injections.
ONS data also showed Covid deaths had fallen for the third week in a row, dropping 28 per cent after 4,079 fatalities linked to the virus were recorded in the week to February 17, the latest available.
Their figures lag behind the daily toll published by the Department of Health, because statisticians go through every death certificate to root out all those mentioning Covid.
The North East had the fewest fatalities from the virus (165), followed by the South West (268) and Yorkshire and the Humber (320). It failed to spread rapidly through these areas before lockdown restrictions were imposed at the start of the year, which may have led to a lower death toll.
The highest number of deaths due to the virus was in the South East (636), but this was 34 per cent below the number recorded the week before (974). The East of England had the second highest toll (566) and the North West had the third highest (563).
In the East and South East the more infectious variant took hold before the country was locked down in January, while cases have not fallen as fast in the North West as in other areas.
Boris Johnson has today refused to comment on reports that he is considering setting up a charity to pay for the refurbishment of his official flat, after the Daily Mail reported that the scheme could be funded by wealthy Tory benefactors.
The paper said that it followed reports that the Prime Minister had complained the cost of refurbishing the flat over No 11 by his fiancee Carrie Symonds was ‘out of control’.
In response, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Matters concerning any work on Downing Street, including the residences, are covered in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts. That is where we set out the details of what has happened.
‘Downing Street is a working building, as has been the case under successive administrations, refurbishment and maintenance are made periodically.’