Return to working at home sees travel down

Fewer than two thirds of people are now commuting after numbers fell following Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging people to work from home to curb a second wave of Covid-19.

New Office for National Statistics( ONS) figures show 59% of adults travelled to their workplace at some stage in the week to September 27 – down from 64% the previous week, which was the highest since records began in May.

It brings to an abrupt halt a recent rise in commuter numbers after Mr Johnson's U-turn last week on his campaign to get workers back to their offices.

The ONS data shows 24% of people are exclusively working from home–up from 21% following Mr Johnson's announcement on May 22 asking people to work remotely if they can.

The figures come as the Prime Minister looks to control a surge in coronavirus infections, having warned on Wednesday that he "will not hesitate" to introduce harsher restrictions as hospital admissions increase.

The latest data also reveals that 11% of the workforce was on full or partial furlough between September 7 and September 20 – down from 12% in the previous survey.

This level is expected to reduce over coming weeks as the countdown begins to the end of the scheme, and with the Government further scaling back the amount of money it pays out to furloughed workers.

Meanwhile, the ONS said 97% of adults wore a face covering in the past week – the seventh week in a row where the proportion has remained at or above the 95% mark.