Ovid-19 infections in the UK have continued to fall and are now at their lowest level for more than two months, figures show.
A total of 1.4 million people in private households are thought to have had coronavirus in the week to August 16, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
That’s down 16% from 1.7 million the previous week.
Infections peaked at 3.8 million in early July during the spread of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the virus, but have declined in recent weeks.
However, health experts have warned that levels are likely to rise again in autumn and winter.
A new booster shot will be offered to everyone in the UK aged 50 and over from next month, as well as those with underlying health conditions, to boost protection against future waves.
Sarah Crofts, head of analytical results for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: “Infections continue to move in the right direction across the UK and are now at levels similar to those last seen in mid-June.
“The rates remain lowest among school-aged children and we will be monitoring the data closely to see how the return of schools in September may affect this.”
Total infections in the UK are now at their lowest level since the week ending June 11, when the BA.4/BA.5 wave of the virus was starting to rise.
Around 1.2 million people in England are likely to have tested positive for Covid-19 in the week to August 16, which equates to around one in 45, the ONS said.
That was down from 1.4 million, or one in 40, in the previous survey in early August.
In Wales, infections totaled 65,500 in the past week, or one in 45 people, compared with 72,600, or one in 40, in the previous survey.
The latest estimate for people testing positive in Scotland was 135,000, or about one in 40, down from 164,100, or one in 30.
In Northern Ireland, infections are estimated at 26,400, or one in 70 people, down from 36,600, or one in 50.
The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 is believed to have fallen in all regions of England.
All age groups in England are thought to have seen a fall in the spread of the virus, except for people aged 25 to 34, where the trend is described by the ONS as “uncertain”.
Infection rates are highest among the 25-34 age group, with 2.5% likely to have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past week, or about one in 40 people.
The rate is lowest among young children aged between two years and sixth year, 1.3% – the equivalent of one in 75.
The ONS Infection Survey is the most reliable measure of the spread of Covid-19 and is based on a swab sample of UK households.
The BA.4/BA.5 wave was not as steep as the Omicron BA.2 wave earlier in 2022, which saw weekly infections peak at 4.9 million in late March.
The number of hospitalizations during the latest wave also peaked at a lower level than earlier in the year.
The number of UK patients testing positive for the virus reached 17,307 on July 15, compared to a peak of 20,559 on April 6 during the BA.2 wave.
Figures are now falling steadily across all four UK nations.
High levels of coronavirus antibodies in the population — either from vaccination or previous infection — mean the number of people seriously ill or dying from the virus this year remains low.
Dr Mary Ramsay, director of clinical programs at the UK’s Health Security Agency, said: “Covid-19 case rates and hospitalizations are at low levels and continue to trend downward.
“The effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines significantly reduces the risk of serious illness from the virus. When the autumn booster is released in a few weeks’ time, we’re urging everyone who’s eligible – people aged 50 and over and those with underlying health conditions – to get in for their shot.”
The autumn booster campaign starts in England in the week of September 5, when NHS staff will start vaccinating care home residents and people who are forced to stay at home.
A national booking service will also open this week, inviting over-75s and people vulnerable to serious illness to book an appointment.
The boosters will be available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from early September.