LONDON (Reuters) – The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England fell sharply in March, a closely monitored poll said on Thursday, but in a precautionary note it also showed the decline in infections had slowed.
The REACT study, led by Imperial College London, found that infections fell by about 60% from the last study in February, with only 1 in 500 people infected.
However, the study found that the rate of decline began to increase in mid-March. Schools reopened on March 8 and COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed next week, with the reopening of all open-air shops and catering establishments.
“We’ve seen a gratifying drop in infections since our last survey in February … This is hugely encouraging and shows that we are going in the right direction,” said Paul Elliott, director of the REACT program.
“However, in our most recent data there has been a flattening in the infection rate with an R number (reproduction) which is now around one. This shows that we need to continue to approach the situation with caution and continue to comply with the rules “.
Overall, the national prevalence in England fell from 0.49% in February to 0.20% in March.
The REACT study is one of the largest COVID-19 surveys of its kind in England, with more than 140,000 volunteers tested in England between 11 and 30 March in the last round.
The study found that the correlation between infections and deaths was divergent, possibly an effect of Britain’s COVID-19 vaccination program, which has seen more than 31 million people receive a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
“These findings are promising and illustrate the significant impact that the blockade, combined with our phenomenal vaccination program, is having on the prevalence of this terrible virus,” said Health Minister Matt Hancock.
Alistair Smout Reports; edited by Jonathan Oatis