UK coronavirus R rate drops slightly but epidemic 'still growing exponentially'

The coronavirus R rate in the UK has dropped to between 1.2 and 1.5.

It is a slight fall from last week, when the rate was between 1.3 and 1.6, according to scientists advising the Government.

The R value or rate is the number of people an infected person will pass coronavirus on to.

But the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said it was “almost certain that the epidemic continues to grow exponentially" and is "confident that the transmission is not slowing".

“While the R value remains above 1.0, infections will continue to grow at an exponential rate," they said.

“This is currently the case for every region of England and all have positive growth rates, reflecting increases in the number of new infections across the country."

Safe estimates the number of new infections is growing by between four per cent and nine per cent every day.

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