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The crucial R rate, which measures how fast the coronavirus is spreading in the UK, has dropped below 1.
Government scientists have said that the number across the UK is now between 0.9 and 1.0.
That means that currently every 10 people with Covid-19 transmit the virus to another person on average.
Last week, the R rate was between 1.0 and 1.1.
Because the figures come with a time span of up to three weeks, the R rate may already be below 0.9 in England, but it has yet to appear in the official figure.
(Image: PA)
Figures released today show that the North West has an R rate of 0.7-0.9, making it the lowest in England.
With an R rate of 1.0 to 1.2, the Southeast has the highest in the country.
London’s R rate is between 1.0 and 1.1, while the East of England, the Midlands and the South West share the same figure of 0.9 to 1.1.
The R rate for the Northeast and Yorkshire is 0.80 to 1.0.
The news comes as the UK coronavirus death toll rose by 498 on Thursday, but the number of new infections has followed a downward trend.
There were 17,555 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total to 1,574,562.
England comes out of its national lockdown next week and the government confirmed on Thursday which areas would be placed at Level 1, 2 or 3.
The government has confirmed that 99% of people will be in Level 2 or Level 3, where all indoor social gatherings are prohibited.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the levels will be reviewed in fifteen days and will be kept “regularly under review after that.”
He told the Commons: “Most of England will be at Level 2, but I am afraid that a significant number of areas must be at Level 3 for the case rates to be ready.
“Now I know how difficult this is both for areas that have been under restrictions for a long time like Leicester and Greater Manchester, as well as for areas where cases have increased dramatically recently, like Bristol, West Midlands and Kent.
“I understand the impact these measures will have, but they are necessary given the magnitude of the threat we face.
“We will review the measures within fifteen days and keep them regularly under review after that.”
Places that are at the most difficult level, level 3, face a ban on households mixing except in limited circumstances, such as parks.
Bars and restaurants would be limited to take out or home delivery services and people would be advised to avoid traveling outside of their area.
Very few areas will finish at the lowest level: 1.
(Image: PA)
In Level 1 areas, people must obey the rule of six indoors and outdoors. These limits exclude families that exceed six people or the support bubble.
Pubs can also sell alcohol without food as long as they operate table service only.
Level 2 areas still face severe restrictions.
Hospitality venues can serve alcohol along with a large meal.
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Level 2 also prohibits indoor mixing, even in public spaces like pubs and restaurants. But people can meet up to six people outdoors, which includes pub gardens.
A coronavirus vaccine is one step closer after the government formally asked the UK drug regulator to evaluate the vaccine from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, giving millions hope.
The measure “marks an important first step for the vaccine to be approved for implementation” if it meets the necessary safety, efficacy and quality standards, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.
But it comes after scientists defended the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca after questions were raised about the results of their vaccine trial.
The government said four million doses will be ready for the UK by the end of the year, with 40 million by the end of March 2021, out of a total order of 100 million.
Last week, the government formally asked the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to evaluate the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
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