Official charts have revealed England’s immense Covid wall of immunity exactly two years after the country was plunged into its first lockdown.
The graphs, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that 99 per cent of adults in England had detectable levels of the Covid-fighting antibodies by February 28.
An estimated 96 per cent of children aged 12 to 15 also had the protective proteins last month, as did around 81 per cent of youngsters between eight and 11.
Covid antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to either natural infection or vaccination and they indicate at least some level of immunity against the disease.
The figures — based on blood samples from 75,000 people — come exactly two years after the UK went into the unprecedented first lockdown.
Boris Johnson announced on the night of March 23 that the following day, Britons should not leave their home but for exceptional circumstances. At that point, there was virtually zero immunity to the novel virus.
But now more than 85 per cent of Britons have been double-jabbed and 67 per cent have got three doses, according to official figures, while separate estimates suggest half of Britons have already caught Covid.
Despite hospital admissions for Covid creeping up in recent weeks, the ONS data shows no sign of waning immunity in elderly groups. The ONS estimates 99 per cent of over-80s had the proteins last month, who are in line to get a fourth jab this month.
Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, hailed the wall of immunity, claiming we were ‘not in the situation we were in two years or even a year ago’.
He told MailOnline: ‘We are better off than I anticipated we would be back then. The vaccines came along quicker than I anticipated they would.’
Antibodies do not provide total immunity against infection, but the ONS said they were ‘strong enough to provide some protection’ against the virus.
The above chart lays bare England’s mammoth wall of immunity against Covid. Based on random tests on 75,000 people in England a week, it shows around 99 per cent of all over-18s have Covid-fighting antibodies. Among eight to 15-year-olds up to 96 per cent would test positive for the virus-fighting proteins, they estimated
![Modelling from Cambridge University scientists suggests 51.8 per cent of people in England had caught the virus by February 23, two years into the pandemic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/04/13/54897671-10572699-Modelling_from_Cambridge_University_scientists_suggests_only_51_-a-8_1646400953115.jpg)
Modelling from Cambridge University scientists suggests 51.8 per cent of people in England had caught the virus by February 23, two years into the pandemic
![The above chart shows that around 85 per cent of people in Britain have already had two doses of the vaccine, while 67 per cent have also got their booster shot](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/11/55744285-10647275-image-a-14_1648119704592.jpg)
The above chart shows that around 85 per cent of people in Britain have already had two doses of the vaccine, while 67 per cent have also got their booster shot
![Astonishing restrictions on daily life: The Daily Mail's front page on the morning after Boris Johnson's historic lockdown speech](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/23/11/55696665-10643239-image-m-7_1648036691961.jpg)
Astonishing restrictions on daily life: The Daily Mail’s front page on the morning after Boris Johnson’s historic lockdown speech
The ONS report — published every fortnight — also estimates the levels of Covid-fighting antibodies in the devolved nations.
It suggested there were similarly high levels among adults in Scotland (99 per cent), Wales (98.9 per cent) and Northern Ireland (98.8 per cent). Among children up to 97 per cent had the virus-fighting proteins.
Britain’s vaccination drive was launched in December 2020, about a year after the first Covid cases appeared in Wuhan, China. It prioritised the elderly and extremely vulnerable before being expanded down the age groups in 2021.
This winter third doses were also offered to all over-18s amid concerns over waning antibody levels and the more infectious Omicron variant.
Fourth doses are being offered to over-75s, care home residents and the vulnerable this spring.
Ministers are also already gearing up to dish out fifth doses to this group in the autumn, the Health Secretary has suggested, as well as fourth doses to over-50s. This would bring Covid jabs into line with the flu vaccine, which is rolled out every year to the age groups.
Antibodies are tiny proteins produced by the body to provide protection against a disease. They work by latching on to the virus spike protein — which it uses to invade the cell — limiting the pathogen from multiplying in the body.
They are a proxy for immunity levels against Covid, although experts point out other harder to measure areas of the immune system — such as white blood cells called T cells — also play a vital role.
Rising immunity levels have been driven both by Covid vaccinations and by infections, in particular the Omicron wave.
Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, previously told MailOnline that the variant gave a perfect opportunity to boost natural immunity levels without overwhelming the NHS because it was so mild.
He said: ‘Natural infection gives longer-lasting protection than any vaccine and the now-predominant Omicron variant generally gives a mild infection.
‘Consequently, the more low-risk people who’re infected the better. It will be a strong wall of immunity that cements our move from pandemic to endemic.’
In the ONS survey, someone was considered to have detectable Covid-antibodies if they had levels above the World Health Organization recommended threshold of 179nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml).
This day two years ago was the first day of the UK’s initial lockdown aimed at thwarting the Covid virus, after it arrived in the country from China.
All non-essential shops were required to close and public gatherings of more than two people were banned, with the police given new powers to enforce the lockdown with fines.
At the time, there were a little over 1,000 deaths from the virus. Today, more than 186,000 British lives have been lost to the disease.
But after two long years the Prime Minister finally looks set to deliver on his promise to beat Covid, with the UK currently transitioning towards living with the virus.
All legally-binding Covid curbs have already been scrapped in England and the final measure — free testing — is to be abolished next week.
Northern Ireland has also ditched its Covid laws and moved to Government advice, while Scotland and Wales continue to take a more cautious approach.
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Nationally, Covid infections have risen for the last three weeks driven by the more infectious version of Omicron and the easing of the final Covid restrictions in England.
Yesterday the country recorded 102,483 new infections, marking the second time this month that cases have broken into six figures.
Hospitalisations are also rising with 16,000 Covid patients currently in hospital — although about half of these are ‘incidental’ cases, when someone is admitted for another illness such as a fall and then tests positive for Covid. It is 40 per cent of the 39,000 patients at the peak of the wave last January.
Some experts have predicted that the current wave of infections will start to fall before the end of this month, as the virus runs out of people to infect.
Britain’s Covid pandemic: The pivotal moments
2020
23 March – In an historic televised address, Boris Johnson announces a nationwide lockdown coming into effect on 26 March. All non-essential shops are required to close and public gatherings of more than two people are banned. Police are given new powers to enforce lockdown with fine.
26 March – The first ‘Clap for Carers’ event takes place across the UK at 18.00, applauding the NHS for their work during the pandemic.
27 March – Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock both test positive for Covid-19 as the virus rips through Westminster. Chris Whitty also starts self-isolating after suffering from Covid symptoms.
5 April – The Prime Minister is admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in London for ‘precautionary’ tests after his symptoms persisted for 10 days. Queen Elizabeth II makes a rare televised broadcast to the UK and the wider Commonwealth, thanking people for following the government’s new Covid rules and telling the nation: ‘If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it’.
6 April – Boris Johnson moved to intensive care after his condition dramatically worsens. First Secretary of State Dominic Raab stands in as deputy.
16 April – 99-year-old war veteran Captain Tom Moore finishes walking 100 laps of his garden, eventually raising almost £33 million for NHS Charities Together. Dominic Raab announces a three-week extension of the nationwide lockdown.
29 April – The Daily Mail’s new charity, Mail Force, flies in vital PPE worth over £1million for frontline hospital staff in dire need of equipment.
23 May – Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s chief political adviser, is revealed to have travelled 260 miles from London to Durham to self-isolate during lockdown.
26 May – In an extraordinary press conference in the Downing Street Rose Garden Dominic Cummings says he doesn’t regret his lockdown-breaking journey to Durham amid calls for him to resign.
15 June – All non-essential retail opens in the UK, and places of worship open for private worship. Face coverings become mandatory on public transport.
4 July – Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers reopen as lockdown measures continue to ease in the UK.
14 September – Social gatherings of more than six are banned as Covid cases begin to rise across the country.
22 September – In a televised address Boris Johnson warns the nation ‘the fight against Covid is by no means over’ as he unveiled new restrictions including a 10pm curfew for pubs and £200 fines for those flouting rules.
14 October – A new three-tiered system of lockdowns comes into effect in the UK, rating areas in the country medium, high or very high.
31 October – Boris Johnson announces a second national lockdown for England to prevent a ‘medical and moral disaster’, lasting from 5 November to 2 December.
9 November – The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine is reported to be 90 per cent successful in preventing COVID-19.
23 November – The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is revealed to be 70 per cent effective. Boris Johnson confirms the previous three-tier system of COVID regulations will return once lockdown finishes on 2 December.
3 December – Britain becomes the first country in the world to approve a Covid vaccine, with the Pfizer/BioNTech arriving the following week. But Boris Johnson warns the public should not get ‘carried away with over optimism’.
8 December – Margaret Keenan, 90, becomes the first person to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as the UK jab rollout begins.
14 December – Matt Hancock announces the discovery of a new variant of Covid that is spreading faster in some areas of the country.
19 December – Boris Johnson announces that London, the South East and East of England will go into new Tier 4 restrictions and Christmas bubbles will be scrapped in Tier 4 areas, effectively cancelling Christmas for millions of families.
2021
4 January – The country is plunged into a third national lockdown from 5 January, shutting all non-essential retail and schools. Brian Pinker, 82, becomes the first person to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID vaccine.
2 February – Captain Sir Tom Moore dies aged 100 after testing positive for COVID-19. A study, suggests that a single dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could lead to a ‘substantial’ fall in the spread of COVID, and is 76% effective in the 12 weeks before the second dose is given.
22 February – Boris Johnson reveals his roadmap out of the third national lockdown in England, with schools opening on 8 March and non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality opening from 12 April.
8 March – Step one of the unlocking sees schools allowed to reopen and people allowed to meet one other person outside once a day. The stay at home order remains in place.
29 March – The second part of step one allows people to leave their homes when they wish but they are advised to ‘stay local’. Up to two people can meet indoors and up to six outdoors, including in private gardens. Open air sports facilities can reopen.
12 April – Non-essential shops are reopened and restaurants and pubs are allowed to offer outdoor service as part of step two of the unlocking. Many other outdoor venues also reopen, including zoos and theme parks. Self-contained holidays are permitted.
17 May – Step three of unlocking takes place. Social mixing rules are expanded to allow the rule of six indoors and up to 30 people to meet outdoors. Indoor venues can reopen, including cinemas, restaurants and pubs. Outdoor stadiums can seat up to 10,000 spectators.
14 June – Boris delays ‘freedom day’ by more than a month after a surge in cases of the Delta variant. The new date for the final unlocking is scheduled for July 19, which the PM says will buy the country time to vaccinate more people.
19 July – The final part of the roadmap out of lockdown sees most legal limits on social contact lifted, including the rule of six. Nightclubs are also able to open their doors for the first time in months. People are asked to ‘gradually’ to return to their desks as the WFH advice is softened. The ‘one metre plus’ rule on social distancing is lifted except in specific circumstances such as at the border and legal requirements to wear face coverings are ditched.
4 November – UK becomes first country to approve an antiviral that can slash the risk of severe Covid. Nearly half a million doses of molnupiravir, a pill that can be taken twice daily at home, are due for delivery from mid-November.
16 November – NHS begins Covid booster vaccine rollout campaign after approval from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Data shows protection from two doses starts to wane after six months. Elderly care-home residents are offered jabs first, moving down through the age cohorts to over-50s. Frontline health and social care workers and younger adults with underlying health conditions are also included in the rollout.
23 November: UK scientist sounds the alarm about ‘horrific’ new variant with 32 mutations on its spike protein – which is later named Omicron. The strain causes an explosion of cases in South Africa where it was first detected.
27 November – The first two cases of Omicron are announced in the UK as ministers impose a ban on swathes of southern Africa in an attempt to limit the importation of cases.
30 November – The booster vaccine rollout is expanded to all adults aged 18 and over to tackle Omicron.
8 December – Boris moves England to ‘plan B’ restrictions for winter as the Omicron variant is projected to send case rates to astronomical levels. Face masks become mandatory in most public indoor venues and NHS Covid Passes must be used to gain access to specific settings. People are asked to work from home when possible.
2022
January 27 – The Omicron wave begins to settle a tidal wave of infections sent daily cases to more than 200,000 per day. Hospital pressure does not reach levels projected by expert advisers, with the booster rollout credited. England moves to ‘plan A’ which sees face coverings and NHS Covid passes scrapped.
February 24 – The Government’s ‘Living with Covid’ is enacted, with all remaining restrictions ending. People who catch the virus no longer have to self-isolate, although they will still be advised to avoid others for five days.
A third of Covid deaths now not primarily due to virus as number of Brits dying ‘with’ rather than ‘from’ infection continues to grow amid milder wave
By Emily Craig for MailOnline
The proportion of Covid deaths where the virus is not the underlying cause has climbed to its highest ever level in England, official figures show.
One in three victims who had the virus mentioned on their death certificate in February died ‘with’ rather than ‘from’ Covid, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The ONS’ monthly report showed a record 34 per cent of the 3,644 coronavirus deaths in England in February were not primarily due to the virus.
For comparison, during the first wave of the virus in April 2020, before vaccines were available, the share of deaths where Covid was not the underlying killer was just five per cent.
When the milder Omicron variant emerged in November, the figure stood at 15 per cent and has climbed every month since.
The rise of Omicron and its off-shoot strain BA.2 has led to a similar pattern emerging in hospitals, where half of virus inpatients in England are not primarily needing treatment for the infection.
Critics have warned that the rise in so-called ‘incidental’ cases, driven by the sheer prevalence of the now-dominant BA.2, is skewing the Government’s daily coronavirus statistics.
Separate data released by the ONS today highlights how immunity in the population is also likely contributing to a rise in incidentals admissions and deaths.
It estimated that 99 per cent of adults and up to 96 per cent of children in England had Covid-fighting antibodies by February 28, based on blood samples taken from 75,000 Britons.
![Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that of the 34 per cent of Covid deaths — which include all fatalities where Covid is written on the death certificate — were not primarily caused by the virus. The figure is the highest recorded since the pandemic began](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/10/55743435-10647253-image-a-4_1648118486224.jpg)
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that of the 34 per cent of Covid deaths — which include all fatalities where Covid is written on the death certificate — were not primarily caused by the virus. The figure is the highest recorded since the pandemic began
![The graph shows the mortality rate in February for men and women in England and Wales. The rate was significantly lower in February 2022 compared to February 2021](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/13/55744681-10647275-The_graph_shows_the_mortality_rate_in_February_for_men_and_women-a-11_1648126939358.jpg)
The graph shows the mortality rate in February for men and women in England and Wales. The rate was significantly lower in February 2022 compared to February 2021
![The graph shows the proportion of fatalities that had Covid mentioned on the death certificate where the virus was the underlying cause. Figures are given for England and Wales. The proportion for England was at the lowest level ever recorded in February](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/13/55744669-10647275-The_graph_shows_the_proportion_of_fatalities_that_had_Covid_ment-a-12_1648126939374.jpg)
The graph shows the proportion of fatalities that had Covid mentioned on the death certificate where the virus was the underlying cause. Figures are given for England and Wales. The proportion for England was at the lowest level ever recorded in February
![The ONS data shows the Covid mortality rate in England and Wales each month. The figure is trending downwards, falling to 55.3 deaths per 100,000 people in England last month, compared to 79.3 in January. The rate fell in Wales from 81 per 100,000 at the start of the year to 45.7 in February](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/12/55744673-10647253-The_ONS_data_shows_the_Covid_mortality_rate_in_England_and_Wales-m-17_1648126051844.jpg)
The ONS data shows the Covid mortality rate in England and Wales each month. The figure is trending downwards, falling to 55.3 deaths per 100,000 people in England last month, compared to 79.3 in January. The rate fell in Wales from 81 per 100,000 at the start of the year to 45.7 in February
The ONS’ monthly mortality report also shows there were 43,081 deaths from all causes registered in England in February, while 2,730 were logged in Wales. Both numbers are lower than the five-year average.
Covid was the third leading cause of death in England and sixth most deadly cause in Wales, accounting for around one in 20 fatalities in each nation last month.
Doctors certifying deaths can list all the causes, including pre-existing conditions, that led to a fatality. The ONS uses this information to determine the underlying cause of death.
From the beginning of the pandemic to February, the ONS found the virus has been the underlying cause of 87.5 per cent of fatalities where the virus has been mentioned on a death certificate — meaning 12.5 per cent have been due to other conditions.
But the rate has varied from month to month. The statisticians found that last month, just 66 per cent of Covid deaths were caused by the virus, meaning 34 per cent were due to other reasons — the highest proportion ever recorded.
Last May was previously the month with the highest proportion of Covid deaths where the virus deaths were not the underlying cause — 31.2 per cent.
In November, the month Omicron was first detected, 15.1 per cent of Covid deaths were not primarily caused by the virus.
Since then, the figure has risen every month, reaching 16.2 per cent in December, 26.3 per cent in January and 34 per cent in February.
The ONS said the difference in rates ‘generally correspond’ to periods with low or high Covid deaths.
‘However, February 2022 has not followed this pattern as deaths involving Covid still accounted for 8.5 per cent of all deaths in England in February 2022,’ it said.
The rise of the milder strain has led to a similar pattern emerging in hospitals, where just 44.5 per cent of patients are being primarily treated for the virus, according to NHS England data up to March 22.
The ONS said that Covid was involved in 3,644 deaths logged in England last month, but just 2,405 were due to the virus.
The figure means the proportion of deaths caused by the virus fell from 7.6 per cent in January to 5.6 per cent in February.
In Wales, 4.4 per cent (121) of the 2,730 fatalities registered were due to Covid, a smaller figure than the 7.3 per cent rate from one month earlier.
Despite the pandemic, overall deaths were 2.2 per cent lower in England last month than expected, when compared to the five-year average from 2015 to 2019 — before the Covid crisis.
Using the same measure, fatalities in February were 7.1 per cent lower in Wales than expected.
High rates of immunity in the population has provided a wall of defence against the virus, with the ONS estimating 99 per cent of adults have antibodies against the virus from vaccination or infection.
More than nine in 10 people aged 12 and over in the UK are triple-jabbed, while No10’s modellers estimate 52 per cent of England’s population have been infected.
The Covid death mortality rate is also trending downwards, falling to 55.3 deaths per 100,000 people in England last month, compared to 79.3 in January. The rate fell in Wales from 81 per 100,000 at the start of the year to 45.7 in February.
In England, Alzheimer’s and dementia continued to be the leading cause of death, causing 4,991 fatalities. Heart disease, Covid and cerebrovascular diseases were also among the leading causes of death.
In Wales, heart disease was the leading cause of death, behind 296 fatalities, followed by dementia and Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular diseases.
The figures come as the UK’s daily Covid cases yesterday breached 100,000 for the second time this month, while hospitalisations and deaths also ticked upwards.
Government dashboard statistics show 102,483 new infections were logged, compared to the 91,345 last Wednesday.
It is the second time in just eight days that daily cases have risen above the six-figure threshold, after the Omicron wave collapsed in late January.
Another 194 Covid fatalities were reported yesterday, up 27 per cent on one week earlier. Hospitalisations also rose 30 per cent in a week, according to the latest UK-wide data for March 19, with 2,011 new admissions.
The rising statistics have been attributed to the loosening of restrictions across the UK and the rise of the more infectious BA.2 Omicron subvariant.
![The graph shows the leading causes of death in England in February. Alzheimer's and dementia continued to be the leading cause of death, causing 4,991 fatalities. Heart disease, Covid and cerebrovascular diseases were also among the leading causes of death](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/13/55744675-10647275-The_graph_shows_the_leading_causes_of_death_in_England_in_Februa-a-16_1648126939402.jpg)
The graph shows the leading causes of death in England in February. Alzheimer’s and dementia continued to be the leading cause of death, causing 4,991 fatalities. Heart disease, Covid and cerebrovascular diseases were also among the leading causes of death
![The graph shows the leading causes of death in Wales in February. Heart disease was the leading cause of death, behind 296 fatalities, followed by dementia and Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular diseases](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/24/13/55744679-10647275-The_graph_shows_the_leading_causes_of_death_in_Wales_in_February-a-13_1648126939376.jpg)
The graph shows the leading causes of death in Wales in February. Heart disease was the leading cause of death, behind 296 fatalities, followed by dementia and Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular diseases
The extremely transmissible sub-strain is still causing milder illness than previous variants, however, and around half of patients in hospital with Covid currently are not primarily ill with the virus, separate data suggests.
However, in a downbeat assessment of how the next phase of the pandemic will pan out, Professor Chris Whitty yesterday said he expects virus hospitalisations to keep rising for ‘at least’ the next two weeks, warning there is still ‘pressure on the NHS’.
It comes as official NHS England figures today showed staff absences due to Covid have jumped more than 30 per cent week-on-week, the biggest increase since the start of the year.
An average of 23,127 staff at hospital trusts in England – 2 per cent of the total workforce – were absent each day last week, either because they were sick with Covid or were self-isolating.
This is up 31 per cent on the week to March 13, and is the largest percentage rise since the seven days to January 2 during the peak of the Omicron wave when NHS staff Covid absences rose by 41 per cent.
But it is still below the level reached at the peak of the Omicron wave in early January, when absences due to Covid averaged nearly 46,000.
The Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) director for England Patricia Marquis said the new figures showed that the pressure on nursing staff in every region was not easing off.
She added: ‘With a significantly depleted workforce undermining their attempts to provide safe and effective care, these absences are the last thing nursing staff need.
The UK Government is offering scant comfort – yesterday’s spring statement did nothing to address the tens of thousands of vacant nursing posts in the long term.
‘Cases are rising and more uncertainty looms with free community testing set to end this month. Employers must ensure nursing staff have continued access to testing and high-quality PPE.’
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk