Britain’s daily Covid cases fall by almost TWENTY PER CENT on last week and London hospitalisations are 31% lower amid hopes South African cases plunge will be replicated here

• UK Health Security Agency figures show there were 146,390 cases today, down 18.5% on last week’s 179,637
• It marked the biggest week-on-week fall since the start of November before the Omicron variant took off
• However the number of people dying with coronavirus increased 103 per cent in a week to 313 today

Britain’s daily Covid figures fell for the third day in a row today, official data showed in a sign the worst of the Omicron wave may be over in the country.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show there were 146,390 new positive tests over the last 24 hours, down 18.5 per cent on the previous week’s figure of 179,637.

It marked the biggest week-on-week fall since the start of November, well before the supermutant strain sent cases soaring across the country.

But the number of people dying with the virus continued to increase today, with 313 fatalities recorded — up 103 per cent on last week’s number.

The surge may be slightly overinflated due to less deaths being recorded on New Year’s Day last weekend. Fatalities usually follow trends in case numbers around two weeks later due to the time it takes for the virus to take hold.

Covid hospitalisations in Omicron hotspot London fell 31 per cent to 310 on January 6, the latest date regional data is available for.

Experts hope nationwide numbers will continue to follow London’s trajectory of rapidly falling cases and now hospitalisations. A similar trend was seen Omicron ground zero South Africa, which saw a sharp peak in cases before infections quickly dropped off.

Official data show Covid cases in Wales and Scotland are increasing faster than in England despite the nations’ harsher restrictions.

Graph shows: Covid infection rates across England’s regions up to January 2, Department of Health data shows

An English football club faces being driven out of business after Wales launched a Covid crackdown on it for breaking the nation’s crowd rules because its stadium straddles the border.

Chester football club was warned they may have breached Welsh coronavirus regulations when they hosted crowds at two matches over Christmas and new year.

The National League North club’s Deva Stadium is on the border of England and Wales, with the front gates and main office in England but the pitch in Wales. 

Official data show Covid cases in Wales and Scotland are increasing faster than in England despite the nations’ harsher restrictions.

Confirmed infections are rising more than twice as quickly in Scotland as they are in England, jumping from 6,976 to 14,006 in the former nation in the week up to January 2 — and increase of more than 100 per cent.

For comparison, cases increased 44 per cent in England to 129,014 during the same period. They increased by more than 52 per cent in Wales to 9,718.  

Confirmed infections are rising more than twice as quickly in Scotland as they are in England, jumping from 6,976 to 14,006 in the former nation in the week up to January 2 — and increase of more than 100 per cent.

For comparison, cases increased 44 per cent in England to 129,014 during the same period. They increased by more than 52 per cent in Wales to 9,718. 

Scotland recorded 26 coronavirus-linked deaths and 12,602 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data.

The figures published by the Scottish Government on Saturday show 57,907 new tests for Covid reported results and 25.1 per cent were positive, up from 21.7 per cent on Friday.

The newly recorded deaths take the toll under this measurement, of people who tested positive for the virus in the past 28 days, to 9,931.

The figures include a note advising of delays between tests being taken and results being reported but saying Public Health Scotland is monitoring the situation.

There were 1,362 people in hospital on Friday with recently confirmed Covid, up 39 in 24 hours, and 48 were in intensive care, the same as the day before.

A total of 4,390,076 people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccination, 4,041,550 have had a second dose, and 3,082,231 have received a third dose or booster. 

Meanwhile, a new record daily number of Covid cases has been recorded in Ireland.

A further 26,122 cases were announced on Saturday. Previously, the highest daily total was 23,817, notified on January 6.

As of 8am on Saturday, there were 917 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 83 were in intensive care.

Warnings were issued last week that the health system will be challenged in the coming days as the state approaches the peak of the Omicron surge.

Approximately 12 per cent of healthcare staff were absent due to Covid-19 across all healthcare services on Friday.

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