Cases also increased in those aged between 35 to 49, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Michelle Bowen, ONS head of health surveillance, said that while infections across the UK nations showed "an overall decrease", there are "differing trends when we look across age groups".

She added: "In England, we have seen increases in school-age children and those aged 35-49 years in the latest week, with decreases only seen in over-50s."

Despite the fluctuations among demographics, the infection rate has dropped for the fourth week in a row and is the lowest UK total since mid-September 2022.

941,800 people in the UK were likely to have had COVID in the week ending January 24, down 15% from 1.1 million the previous week, according to the ONS.

The recent fall in the number of coronavirus patients in hospital has also come to a halt, as health experts said there were "concerning" signs the figure of COVID-positive patients may be on the rise again.

Infections peaked at 3 million at the end of December, following a surge in the run-up to Christmas.

Previous waves were even higher, including in spring 2022 when the weekly total climbed to a record 4.9 million.

Northern Ireland is where COVID is most prevalent, with one in 65 people estimated to have the virus compared to England and Scotland where it's one in 70, while in Wales it's one in 80.

Scotland's estimate is the lowest in more than a year, since December 2021.

The ONS will continue to monitor the data to see "how the situation evolves in the coming weeks".

Booster vaccines planned for autumn and spring

The latest survey keeps in line with data obtained from the 2022 COVID autumn booster programme, which launched back in early September.

More than 82% of people aged 75 and over have received the jab. A total of 64.5% of those aged 50 and over have also had a booster vaccination.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said that although flu and COVID cases are falling, "winter is not over yet and we need to guard against further surges".

She encouraged eligible individuals to come forward and get a booster vaccination, which was echoed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in order to "reduce severe disease across the population" and "protect the NHS".