More than a fifth of Londoners may have already had coronavirus, new National Statistics (ONS) figures suggest, in a fresh boost to hopes that lockdown restrictions could soon start to be lifted.
It comes as cases continue to fall across the capital, with daily infections dropping by a third or more in the past week, according to the latest Government data.
London’s level of antibody positivity was the highest in England, the ONS said, with “substantial variation” recorded across the country.
The West Midlands showed the second highest proportion of positive antibody tests (18.8 per cent) followed by Yorkshire & the Humber (18.7per cent).
South-west England was estimated to have the lowest level (8.3 per cent), followed by south-east England (10.2 per cent) and eastern England (10.8 per cent).
It comes as new study into the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy raised hopes over the easing of lockdown measures.
The Oxford University study found that the jab offers 76 per cent protection against the virus for up to three months after the first dose and could reduce transmission by 67 per cent.
Matt Hancock hailed the “absolutely superb results” saying mass-vaccination “will help us all to get out of this pandemic”.
Cutting transmission is the key to lifting the most severe restrictions of lockdown more quickly and means infection levels could come down faster than they would otherwise.
Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “We know from earlier trials that the vaccines are safe and effective at protecting the individual.
“We now know that the Oxford vaccine also reduces transmission and that will help us all to get out of this pandemic, frankly, which is why it is such good news that we should welcome.”
In a separate interview with Times Radio he pointed to the falling number of people in hospitals adding that deaths would follow.
The Health Secretary added the Oxford data suggested “we can have a high degree of confidence that that will come down quickly”.
Looking further ahead, Mr Hancock also shared his “optimism” at summer holiday prospects.
“I’m optimistic that we will have a great British summer,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
“The challenge we all still have is we have to keep control of the virus, so we have got to monitor progress.
“But the vaccine rollout is going well, the vaccines clearly work and so this is really, really good progress.”