UK appears to defy dire ‘freedom day’ predictions as Covid cases fall

Government will not say they believe worst is over, but cases fell for seven consecutive days this week

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

As England's freedom day" dawned on 19 July, Boris Johnson was grumpily confined to his 16th-century grace-and-favour mansion, humiliated by the row over a bungled quarantine exemption. Cases were at more than 46,000 per day as all legal restrictions lifted and the international press called it Britain's great gamble.

Almost a fortnight later, despite dire predictions, the UK's cases are falling. Downing Street does not quite dare to be jubilant but cases fell for seven consecutive days this week for the first time since November, though the last few days have seen a slight rise. On Thursday, cases were down by 40% on the week before.