Britain’s Covid threat at lowest since pandemic began as official alert level downgraded from three to two for 1st time

THE Covid threat is at its lowest since the pandemic began as the official alert level was downgraded from three to two for the first time yesterday.

Ministers and four chief medical officers agreed to the level being relaxed.

Reuters

The Covid threat is at its lowest since the pandemic began as the official alert level was downgraded from three to two for the first time yesterday – pictured Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Sir Chris Whitty[/caption]

UK Health Security Agency advice says Level 2 means “direct Covid-19 healthcare pressures are low and transmission is declining or stable”.

The country has been at Level 3 since moving from Level 4 in May.

Cases are lowest since June, Office for National Statistics figures show.

And Covid patients in hospitals in England have fallen by nearly a third since July’s peak, to 5,658.

Chief medical officers, including Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said in a statement: “The summer wave is subsiding.”

They added: “Covid remains present in the community.

“We may see an increase in cases but do not expect this to lead to an immediate increase in hospital pressures.”