The UK R number is still below one – at between 0.7 and 0.9, official figures show.

This week’s R number is largely unchanged from last week’s, which scientists estimated was between 0.6 and 0.9.

Today’s figure means that on average, every 10 people with coronavirus will infect between seven and nine others.

The current COVID-19 growth rate is estimated to be between -5% and -3% – meaning the number of new infections is shrinking by between 3% and 5% every day. Last week it was -6% to -2%.

The R number refers to the average number of people someone infected with coronavirus will pass it on to.

However, the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) said: “Although the epidemic continues to decrease nationally, there may be more variation in transmission locally, with some indications that the rate of decline in infections could be slowing in some areas.”

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