Covid infections falling across the UK, says ONS

The number of people infected with coronavirus in the UK is showing the most significant fall since the start of the Omicron wave, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.

In the week to 15 January, it says 3.5 million people tested positive - down from 4.3 million the week before.

Covid infections dropped in England, Scotland and Wales - although the trend was less certain in Northern Ireland.

Positive tests also fell in all age groups except young children.

The figures mirror the steep fall in Covid cases shown in government data since early January, which are dependent on people carrying out tests and reporting the results.

In Scotland, most remaining restrictions are being lifted from Monday, and in Wales some rules are also being relaxed.

About 5.3% of the population had the virus in the UK last week, compared to 6.7% the week before, equating to roughly one in 20 people, the ONS says.

Across the UK, the percentage of people testing positive were:

In England, Covid infections decreased in all regions except in the North East and the South West, where there was less certainty about the trend.

Infections fell most quickly among people aged 16-24 but they stayed flat in the over 70s (around 3% infected) and rose in primary school-age children (to 8% infected).