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The UK’s coronavirus breeding number, known as R, is between 0.7 and 1.0, according to the latest estimate.
The R refers to the number of people that an infected person will pass COVID-19 to.
The latest growth rate for the UK is between -5% and -2%, which means that the number of new infections is falling between 2% and 5% every day.
An R value between 0.7 and 1.0 means that, on average, every 10 infected people will infect between seven and ten more people.
The range is slightly narrower than last week’s number, which was between 0.7 and 1.1, said the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
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It comes as the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest that positive tests are dropping in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and swab testing of people enrolled in the COVID symptom app suggests that cases have down 70% from its peak in January. .
In England, the regional R rates are:
- England – 0.7 to 0.9
- East of England: 0.7 to 0.9
- London – 0.6 to 0.8
- Midlands – 0.7 to 0.9
- Northeast and Yorkshire: 0.8 to 1.0
- Northwest – 0.7 to 1.0
- Southeast – 0.6 to 0.9
- Southwest – 0.7 to 0.9
In a breakdown of the different regions of England, some areas were seen to have a range below one, continuing from last week, meaning the number of new infections is declining.
This included eastern England, with an R number from 0.7 to 0.9 (the same as last week), while London saw its figure drop slightly with an estimated range between 0.6 and 0.8 compared. with 0.7 to 0.9 last week.
The Northeast and Yorkshire had the highest estimated R numbers, between 0.8 and 1.0.
Last week’s range was higher compared to the previous week (0.8 and 1); it is believed to be due to regional variations in the number.
When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially, but when it is below 1 it means that the epidemic is decreasing.
The estimates, from SAGE scientists, represent the transmission of COVID-19 in recent weeks due to the time that elapses between when someone is infected, has symptoms and needs medical attention.
The latest figures from ONS show that in England, the percentage of people who tested positive for COVID decreased in the week ending January 30, 2021, but remains high.
846,900 people within the community population in England were estimated to have the virus, which is equivalent to around one in 65 people.
In Wales, the percentage of people who tested positive was stable that same week, with an estimated 42,700 people having COVID-19, or around one in 70 people.
Meanwhile, data showed that the percentage of people testing positive in Northern Ireland had decreased, with 28,700 people estimated to have the virus, around one in 65 people, and the figure also decreased in Scotland, with 46,100 people testing. believed to have COVID, one in 115 people.
