Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study - BBC News

Coronavirus infections in England have fallen by about a third over lockdown, according to a major study.

The findings by Imperial College London were based on swabbing more than 100,000 people between 13-24 November.

The React-1 study is highly respected and gives us the most up-to-date picture of Covid-19 in the country.

The results of these tests suggested a 30% fall in infections between the last study and the period of 13-24 November.

In the North West and North East, though - regions with some of the highest numbers of cases - infections fell by more than half.

The findings suggest cases are now highest in the East Midlands and West Midlands.

Lockdown came into force across England on 5 November but national data, based on people with symptoms, suggests there was a spike in cases in the week after.

Prof Paul Elliott, who leads the study, said the data offered "encouraging signs" for England's epidemic.

Prof Kevin McConway, a statistics professor at the Open University, said of the study: "It's important not to get too excited about these figures.

The government suggested England's new tier system, coming into force on Wednesday, would be "crucial" to keeping infections falling.

The three-tier system is tougher than the similar one in place before 5 November, under which cases continued to rise.

These findings of the React-1 study are interim, meaning they still need to be reviewed.

Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study8