Number of people testing COVID-19 positive with symptoms and with no symptoms

You asked

FOI Ref: FOI/2021/2625

Regarding the table in the supplied link:

1. Please provide the actual numbers of people (for each reported month) who had "any symptoms" and "no symptoms" from which the % has been calculated.

2. The table only includes results of Ct less than 30. For each reported month please supply how many people were excluded from this report as the Ct was higher than the "less than 30" cut-off used.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19/latestinsights#infections

We said

Thank you for your request.

The COVID-19 Infection Survey is a household survey that estimates the number of people testing positive for infection in the UK. Our statistics refer to individuals in the community, by which we mean private households. These figures exclude infections reported in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.

1. You can find the corresponding number of people testing positive for COVID-19 with symptoms and with no symptoms on tab 3a of the dataset accompanying our characteristics bulletin, published on 30 June 2021.

2. We look at strong positive test results with a Ct of less than 30 to exclude the possibility that symptoms are not identified because we pick up individuals very early or later on in their infection. We do not hold analysis showing a breakdown of symptoms for those who have Ct greater than 30. To provide this information, we would need to create bespoke analysis. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Public Authorities are not obligated to create information in order to respond to requests. We therefore consider this to be information not held.