Covid-19 infections among the general population remain low, with no evidence of the virus circulating at levels seen during the recent spike in December, figures suggest.
Some 1.5% of people in private households in England and Scotland are likely to have tested positive for coronavirus on February 7, the equivalent of around 911,000 individuals or one in 67.
This is down from 2.0%, or around one in 50 people, a fortnight earlier on January 24.
The figures have been published as part of the winter Covid-19 infection study, which is monitoring prevalence of the virus over the next few months.
The project is being run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and is based on data collected from a pool of around 150,000 individuals, who use lateral flow devices to test for Covid-19.
The UKHSA said that both of its latest estimates are within the study’s margin of error, meaning that the evidence for the apparent small decline in infections “is not strong”.
Prevalence of the virus climbed to an estimated 4.5% of people in England and Scotland in the week before Christmas, or one in 22 – the highest since the study began in mid-November.
Professor Steven Riley, UKHSA director-general for data and surveillance, said: “Covid-19 prevalence across the UK remains low, according to this latest data.
“However, some people – particularly those who are older or more clinically vulnerable – are still experiencing severe illness and hospitalisation as a result of Covid-19 infection.
“When we have symptoms of a respiratory illness like Covid-19, it is still important to do our best to limit our contact with other people, especially those who are more at risk.
“This will help to keep rates low and protect ourselves and those around us.”
The rate of hospital admissions in England of patients who test positive for coronavirus has fallen slightly, standing at 3.7 per 100,000 people in the week to February 11, down from 4.0 per 100,000 the previous week, according to UKHSA figures.
Admissions reached 5.2 per 100,000 over Christmas.
Rates remain highest among people aged 85 and over, at 39.5 per 100,000, followed by 75 to 84-year-olds at 18.7.
An average of 3,232 hospital patients in England tested positive for Covid-19 last week, down 10% from 3,599 the previous week and 24% below this winter’s high of 4,245 in early January.
Patient numbers peaked at more than 9,000 last winter.