THE growth rate for the South East's 'R rate' is now one of the lowest in the country as Covid-19 cases across the region continue to fall. 

The fresh data, which has been released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) rates the ability to spread Covid-19 and the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus on to, on average.

The updated 'R rate' for the South East, including Southampton and Hampshire, has decreased to between 0.6 - 0.8, which is equal to the latest R number range for the UK.

The Government says an R-value between 0.6 and 0.8 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between six and eight other people.

The current growth rate in the South East is set at -8 to -4. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.

Across the UK, the average growth rate is -7 to -4.

A growth rate of between -8 per cent and -4  per cent means that the number of new infections is shrinking by between four and eight per cent every day.

These are the latest R estimates by NHS England regions: 

Region - R Growth rate - per day change

  • England: 0.6 to 0.8, -6 to -4
  • East of England: 0.6 to 0.8, -9 to -5
  • London: 0.6 to 0.8, -8 to -4
  • Midlands: 0.6 to 0.8, -8 to -4
  • North East and Yorkshire: 0.7 to 0.9, -6 to -3
  • North West: 0.6 to 0.8, -8 to -5
  • South East: 0.6 to 0.8, -8 to -4
  • South West: 0.5 to 0.8, -10 to -6