Covid cases have fallen further in England, with fewer than a million people infected for the first time in three months, surveillance data suggest.
The Office for National Statistics estimates that on any given day of the week ended August 23, only 893,300 people were infected in the country. The number represents a 26 percent drop from the previous week.
That means just one in 60 people tested positive – the lowest level since the week to June 2, when 797,500 were infected (one in 70).
Cases continued to trend downwards across most of the UK, with 96,000 reported in Scotland and 47,300 recorded in Wales. But 35,800 were logged in Northern Ireland, where ONS statisticians said the trend was uncertain.
ONS bosses said it was unclear whether the figure for Northern Ireland – up by a third in a week – meant an end to falls.
The statisticians said they will continue to monitor the data, with the return of students to classrooms this week after the summer holidays are expected to cause a surge in infections.
While cases have been falling across the country since mid-July, health chiefs expect a spike in the autumn and winter months as more people socialize indoors.
To protect against the spike, an autumn booster campaign will be launched from Monday, with 26million people across England entitled to the next-generation vaccine tailored to protect against the dominant Omicron strain.
The Office for National Statistics estimates that on any one day of the week to August 23 only 893,300 people were infected in England. The number represents a 26 percent drop from the previous week. That means just one in 60 people tested positive – the lowest level since the week to June 2, when 797,500 were infected (one in 70).
ONS data shows cases continued to trend downward across most of the UK, with 96,000 reported in Scotland and 47,300 recorded in Wales. But 35,800 were logged in Northern Ireland, where ONS statisticians said the trend was uncertain and could mean an end to the fall in some cases
In England, the proportion of people infected fell in all regions except the East Midlands. Infections were lowest in Yorkshire and Humber, where just 1.3 per cent of people were infected. The West Midlands and South East also had a case rate below the national average (1.5 per cent). The East Midlands (1.9 percent), London and the South West (1.8 percent) had the highest virus prevalence
ONS surveillance data shows cases have occurred in all age groups. The 50 to 69 year olds tested positive most frequently (1.9 percent), followed by the over 70 year olds (1.7 percent) and the 35 to 49 year olds (1.6 percent). About one in 100 school-age children has been infected – the lowest rate of any cohort – but this is expected to change in the coming weeks as schools reopen for the new school year
Kara Steel, lead statistician for the ONS Covid Infection Survey, said: “Today’s data shows infection rates continue to fall in most parts of the UK, with the number of people with Covid in England estimated to be below one million for the first time since will be early June.
“While there is an uncertain trend in Northern Ireland, it is too early to tell if this means the end of the recent decline. We will be monitoring the data closely to understand the impact of school returns across the UK.’
The ONS data, based on swabs taken from thousands of people, estimated cases in Scotland have fallen by 29 per cent in the last week, with one in 40 people believed to have been infected.
Infections fell 28 percent in Wales, where 65 carried the virus, and rose 36 percent in Northern Ireland, where one in 70 tested positive, the figures said.
In England, the proportion of people infected fell in all regions except the East Midlands.
Infections were lowest in Yorkshire and Humber, where just 1.3 per cent of people were infected. The West Midlands and South East also had a case rate below the national average (1.5 per cent).
The East Midlands (1.9 percent), London and the South West (1.8 percent) had the highest virus prevalence.
Cases also occurred in all age groups.
The 50 to 69 year olds tested positive most frequently (1.9 percent), followed by the over 70 year olds (1.7 percent) and the 35 to 49 year olds (1.6 percent).
About one in 100 school-age children has been infected – the lowest rate of any cohort – but this is expected to change in the coming weeks as schools reopen for the new school year.
In an article in the British Medical Journal this week, a group of scientists from advocacy group Independent SAGE urged schools to take action to “minimize transmission among children and their families”.
Experts have warned that students returning from international leave could have picked up Covid on their flight and transmitted it to others in their class.
In response to an expected surge, NHS medics will start distributing Covid boosters to vulnerable groups on September 5 to prepare for the winter – amid fears the healthcare system will be hit by a triple whammy of Covid, flu and the Cost of living crisis is hit .
All over 50s will be offered both flu and Covid vaccines, as well as NHS and social care workers. Nursing home residents and people who are housebound are the first to queue.
By Christmas, some of the country’s most vulnerable people will have received six doses.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), which advises No. 10 on vaccination campaigns, said the move will limit serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths from both viruses this winter.
But analysis by MailOnline last week revealed that more than a third of over-50s in parts of England have yet to receive their first Covid booster – which was offered last autumn.
While an expected increase in Covid cases is feared, the number of infected people in England’s hospitals continues to flatten out. In the week ended August 29, an average of 560 people were admitted per day, up from 2,000 at the last July peak.
The NHS announced this week that it will no longer publish daily Covid admissions and bed occupancy data, moving to a weekly data release.
The health service said the move followed a decision by the UK Health Security Agency to suspend routine asymptomatic testing due to the low prevalence of the virus and the Government’s decision to lower the Covid alert level from three to two.
A level two alert means “Covid is in general circulation but direct pressure and healthcare transmission are decreasing or stable”.
