scientists say there's been a strong
decline in the number of
covid infections in england since the
latest lockdown began
it's working it seems researchers at
imperial college who've been tracking
the pandemic
say infection rates have dropped by
two-thirds
but there are warnings that virus levels
are still high particularly among the
under-25s
here's our medical editor fergus walsh
lockdown is working draconian
restrictions on society
mean coronavirus has fewer chances to
spread
but that's meant closing schools shops
pubs gyms
putting normal life on hold
the latest evidence comes from 85 000
swab tests
sent out to households across england
the survey by imperial college
from the 4th to 13th of february is good
at picking up cases
among those who don't know they're
carrying the virus
the survey found that infections have
fallen by two-thirds across
england in the past month and are down
80 percent
in london the researchers estimate that
infections are halving
every 15 days but they warned that
prevalence of the virus
is still high with one in 200 people
across england thought to be positive
similar to levels seen in september
we know that the the prevalence of the
virus was much lower last summer
something like 10 times lower
and clearly the more people who are have
the virus
and some of the more not have symptoms
and not know they're carrying the virus
the more likely it is to transmit to
other people so the
lower we can get the prevalence the
better
there are still nearly the same number
of coveted patients in hospital
as at the first peak in april last year
but there are now tentative signs that
vaccines
are beginning to save lives among the
over 80s
the first to receive a kovid jab
deaths among the over 80s have fallen by
54
since the middle of january much of that
is due to lockdown
but they're falling faster than in
younger age groups
where they're down 45
as more and more people get vaccinated
that should start
bringing down cases as well as deaths
at the minute the over 70s they they
only make up about 10
of cases but over 80 percent of deaths
as we start vaccinating younger people
that effect that we're seeing in deaths
we should also start to see more and
more in cases
but there are concerns about the lower
take-up of vaccines among black
asian and minority ethnic communities
you may not always trust what you hear
and what you see but you can trust the
vaccine
a video urging people from all ethnic
backgrounds to get the vaccine
is being shown across commercial tv
channels
and the nhs will be distributing
leaflets in 20 different languages
to try to dispel myths about the vaccine
thank you
the vaccines do not contain animal
products or fetal products
they do not affect your fertility so if
you are offered the vaccine
please please take it up because that is
what will keep you safe
boris johnson will set out a road map
for easing restrictions in england on
monday
and has promised a cautious approach
that will focus on data
and not dates fergus bbc news