NEW figures have revealed that almost one in six people in Yorkshire may have had Covid-19 judging by antibodies present in their system, the highest number in the country.
The data, produced by the Office for National Statistics, found that one in eight people would have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies in a blood test last month in England, which suggests they have had the infection in the past.
The highest figure regionally was in Yorkshire and the Humber, where 16.8 per cent of people would have tested positive for these antibodies in December, which suggests they have had Covid-19.
After analysing random blood tests from people aged over 16, detecting antibodies which are produced by the body to fight infection. Once a person recovers, they antibodies stay in the system at a low level.
In December, 12.1 per cent of bloods tested had antibodies in them, suggesting 5.4 million people in England would have Covid-19 antibodies. The figure is the highest since the pandemic began, and a three per cent increase on November.
Yorkshire and the Humber is the region with the highest antibody positivity in the country – at 16.8 per cent – almost triple the rate in the area with the lowest positivity, the South West with 4.9 per cent. This suggests just over one in six people in the region has had Covid-19.
London is second highest with 16.4 per cent, followed by the North West with 15.1 per cent.
The ONS has carried out this research in partnership with the Universities of Oxford and Manchester, Public Health England and the Wellcome Trust.
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