You asked
Does the figure "Estimate of the number of people testing positive for COVID-19" from the COVID-19 infection survey estimate new infections between each two week period or does it estimate active infections during these periods. Furthermore if it is the latter then how would I go about finding a cumulative figure estimating the total number of infections in the UK.
We said
Thank you for your request.
Our current headline figure is a positivity rate which is the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 at a point in time. We use current COVID-19 infections to mean testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, with or without having symptoms, on a swab taken from the nose and throat. This is different to the incidence rate, which is a measure of only the new infections in a given time period. We are currently reviewing our incidence methodology and will publish this estimate again when we can.
We do not produce an estimate of the cumulative total cases of COVID-19 as we would not be able to estimate this accurately. Our survey began on 26 April 2020 in England and later in the devolved administrations. Therefore, the survey has missed the first peak of the pandemic, so any estimate of total infections would be an underestimate.
Our estimates of the percentage of people testing positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can be used to understand who has had the infection in the past, although the length of time antibodies remain at detectable levels in the blood is not fully known. We present weighted estimates for 28-day periods of antibody positivity for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in our fortnightly antibodies article. The latest article can be found here.
For laboratory confirmed daily and cumulative cases, please see the Government coronavirus dashboard here.