By Sammie Jones-
The official Government estimations revealed today suggests that the coronavirus infections are variable, and fluctuating between the range of low and growing.
It reveals an upper estimate for every region in England remains either at or above the crucial value of 1.
A value of the R value below 1 indicates a low transmission meaning the epidemic is shrinking – but greater than that number suggests it’s growing.
Scientific experts now claim that as Covid-19 cases are much lower than they were at the peak of the pandemic, the R rate is more sensitive to even small outbreaks.The facts scientists use a range of data sources, which can take time to collate.
The latest figures published today by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), which advises the government, shows that the R rate for the Uk as a whole is somewhere between 0.9-1.1. It comes as a covid-19 symptom tests revealed contradictions between the figures given by the Office Of National Statistics and their own studies which indicate a slight rise in infections in the Uk.
The figures published from the SAGE group suggests that the R rate for the UK as a whole is dangerously close to the crucial 1 value – and is sitting somewhere between 0.9-1.1.
Regional Breakdown
The regional breakdown suggests there has been some small decreases in the R rate in four regions of England. The North West of England has seen the biggest decrease – from 0.9-1.1 last week to 0.8-1.0 today following lockdowns that have been put in place.
In the South East, the range is now at 0.8-1.0, down from 0.9-1.1, while the South West was between 0.9-1.1 last week and is now at 0.8-1.1.
The Midlands has also seen a small decrease from 0.8-1.1 last week to 0.8-1.0 today. Scientists say that with infections so low and testing at a higher capacity, even the smallest cluster of cases could affect the range.
There is also a significant amount of variability across a region, so one local Covid cluster could push the R rate up for an entire region – if it’s just one small area.