Initial findings published for testing programme

The Health Secretary has welcomed the findings of the largest study to date into coronavirus rates of infection by Imperial College London.

The research, which examined levels of infection in the general population in England, has been posted by Imperial College London. The report will undergo peer review before a final report is published. More than 120,000 volunteers were tested across England between 1 May and 1 June as part of the study.

Imperial’s research shows the rates of infection fell during May, the last month of lockdown, halving every nine days. There were on average 13 positive cases for every 10,000 people, with an overall reproduction number of 0.57 – lower than previously reported. The findings tend to suggest that the virus was circulating with relatively low prevalence and was declining in May, ahead of the decision being made to begin to lift lockdown restrictions.

The report shows anyone who had recent contact with a known coronavirus case was 24 times more likely to test positive than those with no such contacts. As with previous research, it also showed that young adults, aged 18 to 24, were more likely to test positive than other age groups, and those of Asian ethnicity were more likely to test positive than those of white ethnicity.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This ambitious testing programme will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict how it may spread in the future and inform our response to the pandemic. It shows the impact our national lockdown efforts have had and demonstrates that we have taken the right actions at the right time. As a country we have made great strides towards beating this virus but we mustn’t take our foot off the pedal, and such studies will be vital as we continue to fight this virus.”