Covid infections skyrocket in England with 1 in 75 people now testing positive

Coronavirus infection rates are showing now signs of easing in England, official figures have revealed.

Data from the Office of National Statistics' (ONS) Infection Survey show around 1 in 75 people are testing positive with Covid-19.

This means approximately 741,700 people in England have the virus.

In Scotland, the picture looks just as bleak as 1 in 80 people are now testing positive.

For Wales, the latest estimate is one in 210 people, up from one in 360 in the previous week and the highest level since the week to February 19.

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Coronavirus infection rates in England have now reached a record high (PA)

And in Northern Ireland the latest estimate is one in 170 people, up from one in 290 and the highest since the week to February 12.

It comes as supermarket depot workers have been deemed exempt from quarantine rules as the government tries to avoid food supply issues.

The new contact testing measures starting on Friday at 15 supermarket depots will be followed by 150 depots next week, but supermarket store staff will not be exempt.

Mr Eustice defended the scope of the plans, which do not include supermarket workers, as he said it would be a “significant undertaking” to include them.

When asked whether the hospitality industry could be included, he told Sky News: “The reason we’ve made a special exception for food is for very obvious reasons – we need to make sure that we maintain our food supply, we will never take risks with our food supply."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also confirmed changes to coronavirus self-isolation rules in Scotland to help key industries cope with “significant” staff shortages.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would now consider applications for exemptions from the requirement to stay at home for up to 10 days that results from being a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, has called for people to continue wearing face masks and avoid poorly-ventilated indoor settings to stop the “pingdemic”.