England's Covid R rate rises to between 1.2 and 1.4 as Delta variant spreads

The estimated COVID-19 reproduction "R" number in England has risen to between 1.2 and 1.4 with the daily growth rate of infections also up compared to last week, Britain's health ministry said on Friday.

An R value between 1.2 and 1.4 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 14 other people.

It is up from 1.0-1.2 last week.

The daily growth rate of infections was estimated between 3% and 6%, up from 0% to 3% last week.

Only last week the estimated R number was between 1-1.2, however with the spread of the Delta variant it has risen.

The new variant is responsible for more than 90% of cases in England at the moment.

Members of the public arrive to receive their injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS vaccine centre in Birmingham (PA)

The number of Delta cases are doubling across every region of England at a rate of in-between 4.5 days to 11.5 days.

When the R number is below 1, the Covid-19 outbreak is shrinking, but when it’s above one it will grow exponentially.

This comes amongst after SAGE experts warned social distancing and other Covid measures should stay "forever", according to a SAGE scientist.

Professor Susan Michie, of University College London, said she thinks some restrictions could be needed over the long-term.

Professor Susan Michie said some lockdown restrictions will become more long-term (UCL)

And when pushed by her Channel 5 interviewer on how long that might be, she warned: "I think forever, to some extent."

Her comments come as Brits wait for Boris Johnson to reveal if so-called Freedom Day can go ahead on June 21.

The Prime Minister previously said he hoped to end all Covid restrictions by that date.

But a surge in cases and continued fears over the Delta variant, first identified in India, has put the unlocking in jeopardy.

Boris Johnson is yet to set out whether a full easing of lockdown will go ahead on June 21 (Getty Images)

It has been reported that a 'mix and match' approach could be taken, with some restrictions lifted but others remaining.

For example, the 30-person cap on weddings could be removed in a boost for engaged couples, it was reported.

Prof Michie said of easing lockdown: "Vaccines are a really important part of the pandemic control but it's only one part.

"Test, trace and isolate system, border controls are really essential. And there third thing is people's behaviour.

"That is the behaviour of social distancing, of when you're indoors making sure there's good ventilation and hand and surface hygiene.

"We'll need to keep these going in the long term and that will probably be good not only for Covid but to reduce other diseases."

Presenter Claudia-Liza Armah then asked the Prof Michie: "When you say the long term, what do you mean by that - how long?"

Professor Michie replied: 'I think forever, to some extent."

The scientist was also asked later in the programme if she thought that people could realistically live with continued restrictions.

She said, according to reports: "I think there's lots of different behaviours we've changed in our lives. We now routinely wear seat belts, we didn't use to.

"We now routinely pick up dog poo in the park, we didn't use to.