England’s R number has fallen slightly to between 0.8 and 1.0, the latest government figures show.
Last week, the R value – or reproduction number – was between 0.9 and 1.1.
The R number indicates the average number of people each COVID-positive person goes on to infect.
An R value between 0.8 and 1.0 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 8 and 10 other people.
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The growth rate in England is now between -3% and -1% a day, meaning that the number of new infections is shrinking by between 1% and 3% each day.
This compares to a daily growth rate of -1% and +1% on the same day last week.
The latest government figures show the R number estimate has fallen in every NHS England region.
The list below shows the estimated R number and growth rate for each region, with last week’s figures in brackets.
East of England: 0.8 to 1.0, -3 to 0 (0.9 to 1.1, -2 to 1)
London: 0.8 to 1.0, -3 to -1 (0.9 to 1.1, -1 to 1)
Midlands: 0.8 to 1.0, -3 to -1 (0.9 to 1.1, -1 to 1)
North East and Yorkshire: 0.8 to 1.0, -3 to 0 (0.9 to 1.1, 0 to 2)
North West: 0.8 to 1.0, -2 to +1 (0.9 to 1.1, -1 to 1)
South East: 0.7 to 0.9, -4 to -1 (0.9 to 1.2, -1 to 1)
South West: 0.7 to 0.9, -5 to -1 (0.9 to 1.1, -3 to 1)
The R number has been reported as the latest Office for National Statistics Infection Survey estimated 1 in 90 people had coronavirus in the week ending 18 September.
The figure is a decrease from the previous week’s estimate of 1 in 80.
When modelling the level of COVID-19 infections among different age ranges in England, the ONS said rates have increased for those aged from two to school year 11.
The percentage testing positive decreased in all other age groups except for those aged 50 to 69, where the trend was uncertain.
Around one in 35 people in school years 7 to 11 are estimated to have had COVID-19 in the week to 18 September – the highest positivity rate for any age group.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-englands-r-number-falls-slightly-to-between-0-8-and-1-0-12416581
