The average R rate for coronavirus in England is estimated to be between 1 and 1.2, according to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency.
The R number represents the average number of people each Covid-positive person goes on to infect. The latest estimates for R suggest the number has increased since last week, when the estimated R rate for England was between 0.9 and 1.1. READ MORE: 'Perfect' young mum, 26, dies after 'catching Covid on night out' When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially but when it is below 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking.
An R value between 1 and 1.2 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 12 other people. The growth rate is estimated to be