England’s R number has fallen slightly to between 1.1 and 1.3 despite a rise in cases of coronavirus across the UK, the latest estimates show.

Last week, the R number was listed as between 1.2 and 1.4.

The R number is highest in the South West and the North East and Yorkshire. It is thought to be lowest in the east of England, London and the North West.

The figure, produced by the scientific advisory panel SAGE, is updated every Friday and gives a snapshot of whether the country is facing a difficult few weeks ahead, or if the situation is improving.

An R value – or reproduction number – between 1.1 and 1.3 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will go on infect between 11 and 13 other people.

Anything above 1 means the outbreak is growing exponentially – but below 1 means the rate of cases is shrinking.

The daily growth rate of infections was estimated at between 3% and 5%, the same as the previous week.

It comes as the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show the number of people estimated to have had COVID-19 has risen in all four home nations.

About one in 260 people in private households in England had coronavirus in the week to June 26 – up from one in 440 in the previous week, the ONS said.

In Scotland, it was about one in 150 people, up from one in 220 in the previous week, and the highest level since the week to February 6.

In Wales the latest estimate was one in 450 people, up from one in 830, while in Northern Ireland the ONS described the trend as “uncertain”, with a latest estimate of one in 670 people, up slightly from one in 720 in the previous week.

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