England’s R number has risen slightly to between 0.8 and 1.1, the latest government figures show.

Last week, the R value – or reproduction number – was between 0.8 and 1.0.

The R number indicates the average number of people each COVID-positive person goes on to infect.

An R value between 0.8 and 1.1 means that, on average, every 10 people with the virus will go on to infect between eight and 11 other people.

The latest figures also show England’s COVID daily growth rate at -3% to +1%. It had previously been at -3% to -1%.

The prevalence of COVID-19 infections has increased to around one in 85 people – about 658,800 people – in private households in England for the week ending 25 September, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data found.

Children have led the surge in infections, with more than one in 25 testing positive a month after schools reopened.

COVID-19: Wetherspoons suffers record loss as counts cost of lockdowns

COVID-19: NHS tests and scans in shopping centres and football stadiums to deal with backlog caused by pandemic

Butcher shortage causes backlog of 120,000 pigs that ‘should have been slaughtered and eaten by now’

In Wales, around one in 55 people is estimated to have had COVID in the same week – up from one in 60 the previous week and the highest week since the seven days to 23 December 2020.

Northern Ireland saw one in 65 people infected that week, down from one in 60 the week before.

For Scotland, the ONS estimates around one in 55 people had COVID that week, down from one in 45 the previous week, which had been the highest level since estimates began for Scotland in October 2020.

Related posts:

Woman to referee English Football League game for first time ever Everyone’s Invited: What is the story behind UK schools’ sex abuse scandal? Around half of Britons have COVID antibodies, latest data suggests UK reports one COVID death as 50 million vaccine jabs now delivered Two casualties after explosion triggers fire at house Daughter of murdered PCSO urges people to light a candle in her memory Super Tuesday for Team GB as sailing golds and new most decorated Olympian lead medals charge Met fights decision to reinstate police officer convicted over child abuse video Boy, 5, dies a week after suffering head injury at department store Man arrested after ‘suspicious’ death of woman who fell from Arthur’s Seat Everything you need to know about vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds against COVID-19 Will offices still let you isolate if you get COVID and can people continue to work from home