A total of 29,517 NHS staff across England did not go to work due to COVID-19 on 16 January.
The latest figure, released by NHS England, is a decrease of 26% on the week before when 40,031 workers were absent.
However, it is still more than double the number at the start of December, which saw 12,508 absences.
The total includes staff who were ill with coronavirus or who were having to self-isolate.
Across the country, the largest percentage drop was in the North East and Yorkshire, down 33% from 8,125 on January 9 to 5,430 on January 16.
It was followed by the South West, where 2,037 staff at hospital trusts were absent due to the virus last Friday, down 32% week-on-week from 2,974, and then London at 2,949, down 29% week-on-week from 4,167.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-news-latest-live-updates-plan-b-coronavirus-restrictions-eased-today-face-masks-self-isolation-rules-uk-12507015
