The ‘R’ rate has dipped again across England to 1.1-1.3, and the growth is estimated at 2% to 4% across the whole of the UK, as the Midlands record a rise in transmission
The UK’s coronavirus R rate has dropped for the second week in a row, despite case numbers rising.
A Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) subgroup said the R for the UK is now 1.1-1.3, with a growth rate range of 2% to 4%.
R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.
However, the R number is still as high as 1.5 in the South West – one of the shrinking numbers of areas without toughened Tier restrictions.
It remains above 1 in all areas – and while it remained static or dropped in most regions, it lifted slightly in the Midlands, and Sage warned today it continues to grow ‘rapidly’.
This time last week the R was at 1.3-1.6, with a growth rate of 3% to 6%, which was also a slight dip from the previous week.
