The UK’s coronavirus reproduction number – or R number – now stands at between 0.6 and 0.9.

It represents a slight fall from last week’s estimate of 0.7-0.9, when it dropped below one for the first time since July.

The R refers to the number of people an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to.

Latest coronavirus updates from the UK and around the world

Anything above one means the coronavirus outbreak is growing increasingly rapidly.

An R number between 0.6 and 0.9 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will pass on the virus to between six and nine other people – an indication the epidemic is shrinking.

The number of infections is also thought to be reducing by between 3% and 6% each day, according to the latest estimates.

This is faster than last week when the fall in growth was in the range of 2% and 5%.

Separate figures published by the by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also showed coronavirus infection rates in the community had fallen further in all four UK nations.

The latest figures come as Boris Johnson prepares to set out his “roadmap” out of England’s lockdown next week.

Meanwhile, a minister said the government could not guarantee it would be the last time such tough restrictions were imposed.

James Cleverly said it was impossible to give people “100% certainty” because “viruses don’t work like that”.

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The prime minister is also to confirm the UK will donate the majority of surplus coronavirus vaccines to poorer nations as he seeks to rally world leaders to work together on efforts to combat the pandemic.

Mr Johnson is to chair a virtual summit of G7 leaders on Friday, including US president Joe Biden in his first major multilateral meeting, to discuss the response to the crisis.

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