Latest daily figures in UK show that the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has continued to drop, as it recorded 29,173 new cases on Sunday – down from 48,161 logged a week earlier on 18 July.

The number of new infections by date reported has dropped for five days in a row for the first time since February.

It is also the first time since the start of the pandemic that a sustained drop in cases has not coincided with a national lockdown.

“The data at present is looking good for at least the summer,” said Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia.

“Today’s figures do not of course include any impact of last Monday’s end of restrictions. It will not be until about next Friday before the data includes the impact of this change.”