The coronavirus R rate could be above one in every regions, the government says.
The 'R value' or 'rate' reflects how infectious a virus is.
If it is greater than one, the infection will spread exponentially, but if it is lower than one, it will spread slowly and eventually die out.
In order for lockdown restrictions to be lifted in the UK, the R rate needed to be below one - and the aim is to keep it below that.
However, latest data reveals that the R number range for England is currently between 0.9 and 1.1.
As for the growth rate, that is -2 percent to +1% which means the number of new infections is somewhere between shrinking by 2% and growing by 1% every day.
Every region, including the North West, has an R rate of 0.9 to 1.1, bar two - the East of England and the North East and Yorkshire, which have a rate of 0.8 to 1.
To compare, the World Health Organisation estimated at the start of March that the R was between 2 and 2.5, however, this varies widely according to different studies.
The latest data comes as four Greater Manchester boroughs have been released from tighter lockdown restrictions.
Trafford, Stockport, Bolton will join Wigan in lifting tough measures imposed at the end of last month.
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