Is the government’s coronavirus strategy working?

The findings of a new study should provide welcome relief for the government, Andrew Grice explains. But for Boris Johnson, even good news can quickly turn into bad news

Boris Johnson with a vial of the Oxford vaccine (Getty)

A new study suggesting the number of coronavirus infections has fallen by almost a third during the lockdown in England has raised hopes that the second wave of the pandemic is being brought under control.

The React survey of 105,000 people by Imperial College, London, and pollsters Ipsos Mori showed a 30 per cent drop in cases between 13 and 24 November, with big falls in the northwest and northeast.  

Yet the findings are a mixed blessing for ministers. The timing was hardly helpful, coming as Boris Johnson tries to limit the size of a Commons rebellion by Conservative MPs on Tuesday against the three-tier system of restrictions that will replace the lockdown on Wednesday.