Doctors take an patient from an ambulance to Royal London Hospital in London on January 19, 2021.
TOLGA AKMEN | AFP | Getty Images
LONDON – A third national blockade in England appears to have had little impact on increasing the rate of coronavirus infections, according to the results of a major study, with “no evidence of a decline” in the prevalence of the virus during the first 10 days of tougher restrictions.
The closely monitored REACT-1 study, led by Imperial College London, warned that health services would remain under “extreme pressure” and that the cumulative death toll would rise rapidly if the prevalence of the disease was not substantially reduced. virus in the community.
The findings of the prepress report, released Thursday by Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI, come shortly after the UK recorded another record high for coronavirus deaths.
Government data released Wednesday showed 1,820 more people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid. To date, the UK has reported 3.5 million cases of coronavirus, with 93,290 deaths.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, speaks during a coronavirus briefing (COVID-19) on Downing Street on January 15, 2021 in London, England.
Dominic Lipinski | Getty Images
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the latest figures were “horrible” and warned: “There are still difficult weeks.”
Johnson imposed closure measures in England on Jan. 5, instructing people to “stay home” as they were ordered to close most schools, bars and restaurants. Strict public health measures are expected to remain in place until at least mid-February.
What were the main discoveries?
The REACT-1 study tests the nose and throat swabs of between 120,000 and 180,000 people in the English community at approximately monthly intervals. The latest results mostly covered a period from 6 to 15 January.
The study compared the results with swabs collected between November 13 and 24 and those taken between December 25 and 3.
The researchers found 1,962 positive results from 142,909 swabs taken during the January period. It means that 1.58% of those tested had Covid on a weighted average.
This represents a 50% increase in prevalence rates since the mid-December results of the study and is the highest recorded by REACT-1 since it began in May 2020.
The prevalence from 6 to 15 January was the highest in London, according to the study, with 1 in 36 people infected, more than double the rate of previous REACT-1 results.
A man wearing a mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19 in London.
May James | SOUP Pictures | LightRocket via Getty Images
Infections had also doubled in the south-east of England, in the east of England and in the West Midlands compared to the results published in early December.
“Our data show worrying suggestions about a recent increase in infections that we will continue to monitor closely,” Professor Paul Elliott, director of the program at Imperial, said in a statement.
“We all have a role to play in preventing this situation from getting worse and we must do everything we can to stay at home whenever possible,” he added.
The UK Department of Health and Social Welfare said the full impact of the blockade measures would not yet be reflected in the prevalence figures reported in the REACT-1 study.
“These findings show why we shouldn’t lower our guard in the coming weeks,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
“It’s absolutely paramount that everyone does their part to reduce infections. That means staying home and going out only where absolutely necessary, reducing contact with others, and maintaining social distancing,” Hancock said.