England’s estimated R number has fallen slightly to between 0.8 and 1.

Last week, it was between 0.8 and 1.1.

An R number – or reproduction number – between 0.8 and 1.0 means on average every 10 people infected with COVID-19 will infect between eight and 10 others.

When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially but when it is below 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking.

Meanwhile, the daily growth rate of infections in England is estimated at between -4% and 0% per day, according to the figures from the United Kingdom Health Security Agency. That suggests prevalence of the virus is shrinking.

It is down on last week when cases were believed to be growing by between -3% and 1%.

The estimates represent the situation two to three weeks ago, due to the delay between someone being infected, developing symptoms, and needing healthcare.

It comes as more than 40 million people are now fully vaccinated against COVID in the UK, according to government data.

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