The majority of people who test positive for COVID-19 are symptom free, according to newly released figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said only 22 per cent are showing signs of coronavirus when the test confirms they have it.
This outcome suggests that the spread of the condition is more likely to occur if people who have it are not showing any symptoms.
Although there were only 120 people with a positive result in the survey, it showed several other interesting findings.
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People who are in health or social care roles, come from an ethnic minority background and who live in larger households are more likely to test positive for coronavirus.
Previous research has shown that men are more likely to die from the virus when compared to women, but this survey did not show a difference between which gender might be more at risk of contracting COVID-19.
The figures come as the number of COVID-19 related deaths in England and Wales have dropped for 10 consecutive weeks.
In the week ending June 26, there were 314 fewer deaths than the five-year average in England and Wales. It is the second week in a row that this has happened.
On Monday Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested that the asymptomatic spread may have contributed to the outbreak of coronavirus cases in care homes.
Referring to the fact almost 20,000 people in care homes across England and Wales have died from the virus since the outbreak began, he said that “too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures”.
His words have been heavily criticised from the care sector the National Care Forum saying his comments were “hugely insulting” to care workers.
