Coronavirus infections are down by 30 per cent nationally, a major study has found - and Cornwall is seeing even better results. 

England overall has seen a drop in cases of almost a third in a fortnight this month, with infection rates halved in the north during lockdown, according to an Imperial College London study.

Regionally, research suggest cases fell by half in the North West and North East, with cases also falling in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The study shows infection remains high in the West Midlands and East Midlands.

Cornwall has also seen a 49 per cent reduction in cases from two weeks ago. 

Yesterday's update (Sunday, November 29) showed there had been 257 cases recorded in the seven days lead up to November 24 [data from the most recent five days is not shown due to being incomplete], representing a weekly rate of 44.9 cases per 100,000 people.

This is compared to the 504 cases recorded in the seven days leading up to the November 10 and reported two Sundays ago, on November 15, when there was a weekly rate of 88.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Director of the programme at Imperial College London, Professor Paul Elliott, said the findings suggest the first tier system and the national lockdown has helped bring cases down.

Meanwhile, hospitals in England have been told to prepare for the rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine in ten days’ time, The Guardian reports.

According to reports, hospitals could receive the initial deliveries of a vaccine between December 7 and December 9.

On Sunday it was revealed a further 208 patients who had tested positive for the virus had died in England hospitals bringing the total number of confirmed hospital deaths to 40,405, NHS England said.