The number of people with Covid-19 in England continues to fall, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

The number of average infections per day since the end of April has fallen from 5,600 new infections per day to 4,500, according to the latest figures.

This is a snapshot of the average number of infections recorded by ONS taken at weekly intervals.

And it suggests only about one in 1,700 people were infected between May 25 and June 7.

The ONS publishes data on how many people at any one time are infected with Covid-19 based on swab results from households across the country.

The ONS said “modelling of the trend over time shows evidence that the number of people in England testing positive has decreased in recent weeks”.

The figures look at community infections and do not include care homes or hospitals.

The estimate is based on tests performed on 19,933 people in 9,179 households.

Separate figures from the ONS antibody study – looking at how many people have had coronavirus in the past – suggests 6.8% of people have antibodies to Covid-19.

This is based on blood test results from a small sample of 885 people since the start of the study on April 26.

It is not yet known whether people who have had coronavirus are immune from catching or carrying it again.

Other data from 97 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 suggests only 23% reported experiencing one or more symptoms at the time of their test.

ONS’s Infection Survey is a vital part of our testing strategy, and we will continue to learn from its insights to expand our understanding of the virus

Some 33% reported experiencing symptoms at any point in the period around testing positive.

The ONS said: “This analysis is based on 97 individuals in the sample who tested positive for Covid-19.

“This is a very small denominator, meaning the confidence intervals are wide.

“Additionally, with such a small number of cases included in this analysis, if any of these are false-positives this would have a large effect on the results.”

A study last month of 128 cruise ship passengers and staff who tested positive for the virus found 81% did not have symptoms.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Our plan is working.

“Thanks to the work of our health and care workers and the huge efforts of the British people to slow the rate of infection, rates of Covid-19 infections are decreasing over time.

“ONS’s Infection Survey is a vital part of our testing strategy, and we will continue to learn from its insights to expand our understanding of the virus.”