Virus R number between 0.8 and 1.0

THE R number for the South East is between 0.8 and 1.0 according to new figures released by the Government last weekend.

The figure is the average number a sick person could pass the virus on to. If it is above 1.0 then the infected person is transmitting Covid-19 to more than one person. If it is below, then the virus has a good chance of petering out.

Although the rate is high, the South West has an R-number range of 0.8-1.1.

The Government said that the estimate does not necessarily mean that Covid-19 is spreading. It could mean that there is a localised outbreak bringing the rate of infection up.

At Friday’s Downing Street press conference, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We want to keep the R number below 1.0. R is the average number of additional people infected by each infected person.”

He also said: “Results from the ONS infection survey estimate that the number of people who tested positive for coronavirus in England fell from 152,000 between 27April and 10 May, to 33,000 between 25 May and 7 June.

“This is encouraging progress and suggests that around 1 in 1,700 people in the community had coronavirus during the latest period of the survey.”

Wokingham borough falls within the south east NHS region. To date, it has had 453 confirmed cases, a rate of 269.7 per 100,000 residents.

Wearing a face covering is nowmandatory if on a bus or train, with the possibility of fines on offer if the passenger doesn’t comply.

Mr Shapps said: "If you can work from home, you should continue to do so. If you cannot work from home, you should try to avoid public transport. If you must use public transport, you should travel at quieter times of day.”