Covid: R Value between 0.7 to 0.9 in UK but higher levels calculated in England and Scotland
The coronavirus reproduction number, or R value, across the UK is between 0.7 to 0.9, according to the latest Government figures.
This is compared to a figure of between 0.6 and 0.9 last week.
The latest growth rate is between minus 5% to minus 2%, which means the number of new infections is shrinking by between 2% and 5% every day.
Watch ITV News Science Editor Tom Clarke's response to the latest figures:
R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.
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 number between 0.7 and 0.9 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between seven and nine other people.
However, England and Scotland are higher with a calculation of between 0.8 and 1.0.
R number and for the UK and devolved nations:
UK - 0.7 to 0.9England - 0.8 to 1.0 Scotland - 0.8 to 1.0Wales - 0.6 to 0.9Northern Ireland 0.75 to 0.95
It comes as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its Covid-19 Infection Survey that showed that estimated cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were levelling but increased in Scotland.
R value and growth rates for regions in England:
England - 0.8 to 1.0 (-4% to 0%)East of England - 0.7 to 1.0 (-5% to 0%)London - 0.7 to 0.9 (-5% to -1%) Midlands - 0.7 to 1.0 (-5% to 0%) North East and Yorkshire - 0.8 to 1.0 (-4% to 0%) North West - 0.7 to 1.0 (-4% to -1%) South East - 0.7 to 1.0 (-5% to 0%) South West - 0.7 to 0.9 (-6% to -1%)
The estimates, overseen by the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), are based on data including hospitalisations and deaths as well as symptomatic testing and prevalence studies.
Listen to our latest coronavirus podcast: