The UK's coronavirus R rate has risen slightly to 0.7-0.9 - despite cases falling to their lowest level since September. Figures show the infection rate has risen from 0.6-0.9 a day after it was revealed confirmed cases of coronavirus in England are at their lowest level since September after a 19 per cent drop in a week.
The growth rate means the number of new infections is shrinking by between 3% to 5% every day. Falling death rates have also been recorded this week.
Yesterday, a tragic 242 were still recorded as dying from coronavirus - but this is down by around 35 per cent on last week, when Thursday 25 February saw 323 deaths.