COVID-19: Infection rates continue to fall across England with 1 in 220 testing positive outside hospitals

Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to fall across England, with one in 220 people testing positive for the virus outside of hospital, latest figures show.

Around 248,100 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the community in England during the week ending 27 February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is down from one in 145 in the previous week.

In Wales, the ONS estimates that one in 285 people tested positive that week. In Northern Ireland the figure was 1 in 325 and in Scotland it was 1 in 335.

Cases fell in all English regions apart from the North East, East and East Midlands, where the decrease appears to have slowed or plateaued.

Infection rates also dropped across all age groups apart from secondary school pupils from Years 7 to 11, where trends are "uncertain" and decreases may be starting to slow as well.

Secondary school pupils are due to return to school on Monday.