Covid levels falling in all age groups in most of UK, says ONS

Levels of Covid-19 are falling in all age groups of children and adults - and across most of the UK - according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

One in 23 would test positive for the virus, down from one in 17 the week before - a 24% decrease.

Covid levels are declining in England, Scotland and Wales but are unchanged in Northern Ireland.

Despite the decreases, "infections do remain high," the ONS said.

"Infections have thankfully continued to decrease across most of the UK, though we are yet to see if this is part of a larger trend," said Kara Steel, senior statistician for the Covid-19 Infection Survey.

The latest figures are an estimate for the week up to 23 April, based on tests on thousands of people in random households across the UK.

Around 2.87 million people would have tested positive for Covid, down from 3.76 million the week before.

This gives the most accurate picture of Covid now that free testing for the public in England has come to an end.

Some free testing will continue in Scotland until the end of April, and in Wales and Northern Ireland until the end of June.

Infections fell in all regions of England. They are highest in the North East (6.1% of people testing positive) and lowest in London (3.6%).

And infections in England are coming down among the over-70s (to 5%), younger adults and children, with the steepest falls among the youngest - those aged two to 10 (2%).

Official UK data shows the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid continues to fall.

Figures had risen from about 1,100 a day in mid-February to nearly 2,400 by the end of March, but they have since dropped to about 1,455 admissions each day.

Meanwhile, the number of hospital patients with the virus in intensive-care beds is now around 325.

Data for mid-April shows 1,150 people died during the previous week with Covid-19 on their death certificate - suggesting it is very likely to be the underlying cause of death.

There were 1,673 deaths a week in mid-January.