Categories
-Top News COVID-19 UK News

Covid infections in UK drop to late Summer levels

In the week to 24 April, the Coronavirus infections had dropped in all four nations of the United Kingdom and were 20 times lower than in January, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

The UK Office for National Statistics suggests the Covid-19 cases in the country are back to levels seen at the end of last summer with around one in 1,000 people infected, it was reported.

According to ONS, in the week to 24 April, infections fell in all four nations of the UK and were 20 times lower than in January, the BBC reported.

This was after a new UK study has found very small numbers of people have been admitted to hospital with Covid several weeks after having one vaccine dose.

Meanwhile, BBC analysis shows about 22 million people are now living in areas where there were no Covid deaths in April.

Covid
People are seen at an NHS COVID-19 vaccination center in London. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The Office for National Statistics survey, which tests a random selection of thousands of people in the community, estimates that about 66,000 people in the UK would have tested positive for coronavirus in mid-April.

This is down from the previous week’s estimate – and way down on the figure of 1.25 million infected at the peak of the second wave in January.

Also Read | British Biz Forum CBI Seeks Support For India’s Covid Fight

The ONS estimates that in the week to 24 April. In England, 1 in 1,010 were infected, compared to 1 in 610 the previous week. In Wales, 1 in 1,570 were infected, compared to 1 in 840 the previous week. While in Northern Ireland, 1 in 940 were infected, compared to 1 in 660 last week and in Scotland, 1 in 640 were infected, compared to 1 in 560 the week before, the BBC cited ONS data.

For England, it is the lowest figure since the week to 5 September, when the estimate stood at one in 1,400, while in Wales it is the lowest since 10 September.

A pedestrian walks by a pub, The Hope, shuttered in London due to coronavirus regulations. Photo: Yui Mok/PA

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, who joined the survey later, the figures are the lowest since their estimates began.

Another 2,381 new cases were reported in UK and also 15 Covid-related deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

A quarter of all adults in the UK have received both coronavirus vaccine doses – that’s more than 13m people.

Also Read | Quarter of UK adults receive both jab doses

The milestone means one in four adults in the UK has received the strongest possible protection against COVID-19 and it comes as the NHS is now inviting 42 and 43 year olds to get their jab.

But the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned Cabinet colleagues the UK is “not out of the woods” yet as virus variants of concern continue to emerge.

The government’s latest figures also show 34.2 million people have now received a first dose of a vaccine, while 14.5 million people are fully vaccinated having received two jabs.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Photo: No 10, Downing Street)

The government has already hit its target of offering everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 – those aged 50 and over, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers – a first dose of the vaccine by 15 April and remains on track to offer a jab to all adults by the end of July.

According to health officials, vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 with symptoms. They are far less likely to get serious COVID-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it and there is growing evidence that vaccinated people are less likely to pass the virus to others. 

Recent data from Public Health England shows vaccines are already having a significant impact in the UK in reducing hospitalisations and deaths, and saved more than 10,000 lives between December and March.

Data from the ONS and Oxford University shows that COVID-19 infections fell significantly by 65% after the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, rising further after the second dose.

The latest vaccine effectiveness data from PHE show that in those aged over 70, both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines reduce the risk of getting symptomatic disease by around 60% after a single dose. This protection lasts for several weeks.

In those aged over 80, protection against hospitalisation is around 80% and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is 85% effective at stopping people aged over 80 dying from COVID-19.

Categories
-Top News India News UK News

British Biz Forum CBI Seeks Support For India’s Covid Fight

Lord Karan Bilimoria, President of Confederation of British Industry, appeals to the British business community to support India to overcome the current pandemic crisis … If your business can help, make your voice heard … A special report by Asian Lite International from London

CBI President Lord Karan Bilimoria, India-born founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer, has issued a statement on the need for the support of the business community to assist in the growing Covid-19 crisis within India.

“Business stands in solidarity with India in light of the devastating health crisis which is unfolding,” he said in a statement. “At this crucial moment we are urging UK firms to donate critical resources and supplies where they can. This includes: ventilators and breathing apparatus, lateral flow tests, empty refillable oxygen cylinders with 10 litres and 45 litres LMO capacity, ISO containers to facilitate transport of liquid oxygen to deficient areas, oxygen concentrators, in situ oxygen manufacturing plants for hospitals, oxygen generator plants, bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) machines, PPE, warehousing, transport & logistics. There is also an urgent need for Remidisvir and Favipiravir to help treat those with the virus.”

Lord Karan Bilimoria

“The UK and India share a close bond based on our enduring ties and ongoing close cooperation. The global challenge of the pandemic must be tackled on a united front. If we are not able collectively to control the spread of the virus it will remain a huge risk for lives and economies around the world. The B7 Summit hosted by the CBI on 11th and 12th May will be a crucial moment to show solidarity and strong support to our Indian friends in a moment of need and ensure a resilient global recovery from this devastating pandemic.

“In recent weeks the CBI has been rallying UK businesses to support Indian companies. I’m delighted to say that businesses including BOC Ltd, Gilead Sciences, Peak Scientific, Air Liquide, Penlon (are exploring various options to support this), PG Paper Company LTD , DHL, CEVA Logistics part of the CMA CGM Group, Wincanton, Heathrow Airport, Mott MacDonald, Accenture, KPMG, and trade associations including Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) are stepping up to the plate and supporting, just as they have done here in the UK throughout the crisis.

“Our goal is to help others do the same and ensure the overall response is amplified, relevant and focused in a way that helps India.  For instance in addition we have be working with the MOD and the NHS regarding the possibility of setting up nightingale / field hospitals at speed in India. We are also working with the British Asian Trust to help raise funds for 200,000 oxygen concentrators to be distributed throughout India.”

The CBI, representing over 190,000 British firms, is working closely with the Indian High Commission to support the struggling Indian firms.

“We are working very closely with the Indian High Commissioner, Gaitri Issar Kumar, and her team in London and the British High Commissioner, Alex Ellis, and his team in Delhi. Our CBI office in Delhi is involved throughout and we are in constant touch with the CII our sister organisation in India,” Lord Bilimoria added. “I say to any business out there – If your business can help, make your voice heard.”

READ MORE: Over 40 countries offer help in India’s fight against Covid-19

READ MORE: UAE’s cargo for medical aid lands in India