One in 270 had Covid-19 in England as infections hit lowest rate since September

One in 270 people had Covid-19 in England in the week up to March 6 - the lowest rate since September, new figures reveal.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey estimated 200,600 people had the virus in the community in the first week of March, the most recent available data.

This is down from around one in 220 - or 248,100 people - in the previous week.

It marks the lowest figure since September 24, when 116,600 people were estimated to have the virus.

The following week there was a huge spike of more than 100,000 infections, taking the estimated total to 224,400 and marking the second "spike" in the virus.

In Wales, the percentage of people testing positive has continued to decrease, with an estimated 8,300 cases, equating to around 1 in 365 people during the same period.

One in 270 people are estimated to have had the virus in England last week (EMPICS Entertainment)

The figure levelled off in Northern Ireland, with an estimated 5,900 cases or 1 in 310 people.

And in Scotland the figure had also levelled off, with an estimated 16,600 cases or 1 in 320 people.

Regionally, the highest percentages of people testing positive were observed in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and The Humber.

The ONS said there were "early signs" of a possible increase in the percentage of people testing positive in the South East and South West.

But rates have decreased in the North East, North West, East Midlands, East of England and London.