UK COVID R number dips to 0.8-1.0, pandemic shrinking quicker

The estimated reproduction "R" number has dipped to between 0.8 and 1.0, down from 0.9-1.0 a week ago, government scientists said on Friday, adding that the pandemic was estimated to be shrinking quicker than before too. An R number between 0.8 and 1.0 means 10 people with COVID-19 will on average infect between 8 and 10 other people.

The growth rate was between -3% and -1%, down from between -2% and 0% last week, indicating the number of new infections is shrinking between 1% and 3% each day.