UK R rate rises slightly but remains below one
The increase comes after pupils returned to the classroom in the first phase of lockdown lifting.
The R rate across the UK has increased slightly but remains below one, official figures show.
According to Sage, the estimated R number is between 0.6 and 0.9 which compares to between 0.6 and 0.8 previously.
R measures the number of people an infected person passes the virus on to.
If it is above one, it means the virus is growing and if it is below one, the virus is shrinking.
The current figure means that, on average, every 10 people will infect between six and nine other people.
The increase comes after pupils returned to the classroom in England on March 8 in the first phase of lockdown lifting.
Restrictions are set to be loosened further on March 29, when the Stay at Home order will be dropped and people can meet outside in groups of six.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of people infected with Covid in England is continuing to fall.
Around one in 340 people in private households in England had COVID-19 in the week to 13 March – roughly 160,200 people.
Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout is continuing to gather pace with first doses offered to over 25 million people across the UK.
However, progress could be threatened by shortages caused in part by a delayed shipment of 5 million Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs from India.
The NHS warned on Wednesday that a ‘significant reduction’ in supply was now expected throughout April, delaying the rollout to the under-50s.
The announcement caused confusion as the reason for the shortage was not initially clear.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock later told MPs that a ‘delay’ to a shipment of five million Oxford jabs from India was a key factor that will slow the pace of the vaccination campaign next month.
Whitehall sources say Downing Street has opened secret discussions with the Government in India in a bid to lift the export restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both insisted the problem won’t affect the roadmap out of lockdown.
Shops, hairdressers and beer gardens are set to open on April 12 while it is hoped all restrictions could be lifted by June 21.
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