Coronavirus cases have dropped by 28% in England, marking the lowest total since the week ending October 14. Test and Trace’s latest figures suggest a total of 110,620 people tested positive for Covid-19 in England at least once in the week to November 25.

There was also a drop in the number of tests coming back positive – with 6.7% confirmed to have the virus compared with 8.7% the week before. It comes as England emerged from its second national lockdown on Wednesday, December 2, and entered a new tiered system.

Figures released earlier this week showed that the number of weekly deaths in England and Wales had reached their highest point in six months. Some 246,604 people were identified as coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive in the week to 25 November.

The government says that is a ‘notable decrease’ after remaining consistent over the previous two weeks – but is still 7 times higher than the end of August.

But there were warnings that a change in the system means it is no longer possible to compare the proportion of contacts that have been reached each week.