Coronavirus (COVID-19) roundup: 25 March 2021

ONS published the latest findings on the characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 in England, housing affordability in England and Wales, and coronavirus and the latest indicators for the UK economy and society. The main points include: 

• In recent weeks, there is evidence that the percentage of people in both patient-facing and non-patient-facing job roles testing positive for COVID-19 has continued to decrease

• Between 1 September 2020 and 28 February 2021, disabled people whose daily activities are most limited were significantly less likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared with non-disabled people. This could be because they have engaged in more protective behaviours such as shielding

• Average daily car traffic counts in London were at the highest level observed in the city since mid-December 2020 at 92% of their pre-lockdown average (11 March to 22 March 2020)

• The London average daily count of car traffic increased by 7% in the latest week ending 21 March 2021 according to data from Transport for London

• Housing in 2020 has become slightly more affordable in England than it was in 2019, thanks to an increase in earnings

• Houses in Wales became slightly less affordable during the same period, because of a 3.1% increase in the median price, compared with 2019, while earnings increased by 2.4%

• Neither of these changes in affordability were statistically significant

Read the ONS roundup