COVID-19 infection levels dropped last week in all nations of the United Kingdom except Northern Ireland, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

Its data suggests the latest wave of coronavirus, with the dominant Omicron variant, may have peaked.

The figures cover people in private households estimated to have had COVID-19 in the seven days to 15 January.

In England, one in 20 are believed to have been infected – around three million people, down from 3.7m in the week to 6 January.

In Scotland, it was also one in 20, or 236,600 people, down from 297,400.

In Wales, the estimate is one in 25, or 112,100 people, down from 169,100.

But in Northern Ireland, there was a slight increase – up to 104,300, from 99,200.

The proportion estimated to be infected, however, is one in 20, the same as in England and Scotland, and the ONS said the trend in Northern Ireland is “uncertain”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The figures come from a sample of swab tests collected from households across the UK.

In England, infections have fallen in all regions except the North East and South West.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

In the North East, about one in 10 people was likely to test positive in the week to 15 January – the highest estimate for any region.

The South West had the lowest rate, at about one in 25.

Work from home guidance, COVID passports and mandatory wearing of face-masks are to be scrapped in England, Boris Johnson has announced.

Related posts:

Woman who forged millionaire’s will and starved him to death to inherit his estate is jailed for life Two AstraZeneca jabs give 94% protection against death for over-65s, says PHE Delta variant cases up 46% in a week – as expert warns mutant strain will hit UK ‘soon’ Images show Sarah Everard with her killer moments before he abducted her, court hears Statue unveiled for Wales’ first black headteacher who introduced Black History Month into school curriculums Transgender inclusion review says some sports should create new categories of competition Teenager arrested after swastikas sprayed on London synagogue Nine people arrested after street brawl stabbings in Bristol UK records another 38,009 COVID cases and 74 related deaths Spurs sack manager Nuno Espirito Santo after less than five months in charge Second departure from No 10 as PM’s spin chief quits – and Sunak piles on pressure over Savile comments Partygate purge or ‘Drowning Street’? Reactions to a dramatic day of departures from Number 10