Covid toll tumbles as country edges back to normality

COVID infection rates peaked in early January, then tumbled but plateaued at high levels and growing rates in children are worrying experts.

- Hanna Geissler

The update came as it emerged that people who are fully jabbed and have also caught the virus appear to develop "super immunity”.

Prevalence in England reached the highest peak yet recorded from January 5 to 20, with an average of one in 23 people infected.

This was almost three times higher than the one in 64 ratio in January 2021 amid the second wave.

Trends were less certain last week, with cases decreasing in adults but soaring in children.

The latest round of Imperial College London's React-1 survey, based on swabs from more than 100,000 people, provided the data.

Experts remain worried about rising rates among children this month.

The highest prevalence - one case in every 13 youngsters - was noted in the five to 11 age group.

Prof Paul Elliott, of Imperial, said: "There is good news in our data in that infections had been rapidly dropping during January.

Robust