The Office for National Statistics said an estimated 618,700 people in England – one in 90 – had Covid-19 between October 25 and 31, up from 568,100 the week before

The rate of coronavirus infections across England and Wales appears to be slowing down, new data showed.

The Office for National Statistics said an estimated 618,700 people in England – one in 90 – had Covid-19 between October 25 and 31, up from 568,100 the week before.

But while the infection rate has increased in recent weeks, “the rate of increase is less steep compared with previous weeks”, the ONS said.

The University of East Anglia’s Dr Paul Hunter said it is still to early to understand whether the decline is a temporary one or will last for longer.

He told Mail Online : “Whether this turns out to be a temporary decline or a longer term trend, possibly as a result of the imposition of the three tier system, it is too early to say.