As the worst of this summer’s heat is over, COVID cases in Britain are now falling.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show infections fell by 16 per cent last week – from 3.8million to 3.2m – in the first decline for eight weeks.
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The surge peak was only 75% of levels that were seen in the spring.
Sarah Crofts, stats expert at the ONS, said: “Our most recent data suggest that we may now be over the peak of the latest wave of infections across the UK.
“We have seen welcome decreases among most parts of the UK and in all age groups, although rates still remain among the highest seen during the pandemic.
“With summer holidays starting and more people travelling, we will continue to closely monitor the data.”
Some scientists feared cases would hit another record high – but they have trailed off without the need for masks or restrictions.
This wave was triggered by the rise in popularity of Omicron version BA.5, which is dominant in the UK, but still mild.
NHS figures show the number of positive patients in hospital beds has also fallen – to 11,437 from a peak of 14,044 on July 18.
Professor James Naismith of Oxford University stated: “The vaccines have proved extraordinarily effective at lowering serious illness and deaths.”
The next round of booster jabs will begin in just a month’s time, at the start of September, in preparation for the virus’s autumn or winter rebound.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: “We really want to see further declines in case rates and hospitalisations in the coming weeks and months.
“People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations.”