The number of new coronavirus infections in private households in England has fallen to an estimated 5,600 per day, down from 8,000 the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The estimate is based on swab tests of 19,000 people in 9,000 households.
The ONS study suggests there are now 39,000 new infections per week on average in England. It estimates that one in 1,000 people had the virus in the community between 17 and 30 May, excluding those in hospitals or care homes. The figures are based on 21 positive swab tests in 15 households, so there is a margin of error.
Professor Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: 'The rate of infection continues to decline and is half what it was two weeks ago. This is highly compatible with the fall in diagnosed cases.' He noted that the contact tracing service has sufficient staff to cope with current infection levels, but that the main problem is people not getting tested when they have symptoms.
The ONS also conducted antibody tests on 885 people, suggesting that around 7% of people in England have previously had a coronavirus infection. However, it remains unclear how long immunity lasts.
