A VACCINE for coronavirus is on the horizon as the rate of cases in the county falls.

Data published today for the week ending November 27 shows a sharp drop in the number of new Covid-19 infections being reported.

There were 404 new cases in Cumbria compared to 858 the previous week, a decrease of 53 per cent.

All Cumbria’s districts now have infection rates below the England average.

Cumbria’s Director of Public Health Colin Cox celebrated the news while stressing that continued action will be needed to keep numbers dropping.

“This reduction in new infections is very welcome news and shows quite clearly that in Cumbria the lockdown measures achieved their main aim of significantly slowing the spread of the virus," said Mr Cox.

“But it’s important to realise that the infection rate is still very much higher than it was at the end of the summer.”

The drop comes as the county this week moves into new Tier 2 High Alert Covid-19 restrictions.

The new tier two restrictions include no mixing with other households indoors apart from those in your support bubble.

Tier two regions are also subject to the Rule of Six. Pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants.

The public are advised to limit unnecessary journeys and avoid travel into tier three areas

“Back then, within two months we were into a second lockdown. So we are definitely not out of the woods yet and the new tier two restrictions are necessary if we want to bring the rate down even lower and have a chance of having restrictions eased in future.”

“We can get there, but everyone needs to do their bit and stick to the guidance.”

Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine had been approved by the regulator and the UK is now set to roll out the vaccine as early as next week, with Cumbria likely to see vaccinations later this month.

Mr Cox said: “The news around the vaccine is of course massively welcome, but I have to say it’s very early days, it’s just been announced."