The prevalence of Covid-19 infections in England increased in the week ending Sept 25, Britain's Office for National Statistics said, led by an increase in infections in school-age children.

There was an estimated prevalence of 4.5 per cent among secondary school-age children, meaning more than 1 in 25 tested positive for Covid-19, compared to 2.8pc of children in the age range testing positive in the previous week.

The overall prevalence figure for England was 1 in 85, slightly higher from the previous week's figure of 1 in 90, although it remains lower than it was two weeks ago, when it was estimated at 1 in 80, according to a Reuters report.