The health secretary has insisted that the coronavirus 'R' number is below one in all regions of the UK, including the North West, despite a recent survey suggesting otherwise.
At today's coronavirus briefing, Matt Hancock said that the government's expert group of scientists, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), estimates that the figure is below the crucial figure of one.
The statistic is a measure of whether the disease is under control.
The 'R' number reflects the number of people each infected person on average would spread the virus to.
If it is below one, the virus is on the decline, but figures of above one suggest it is growing.
Last week the M.E.N. reported how scientists from the Public Health England and Cambridge University, who have been tracking how the virus spreads, said that the North West has the highest rate of Covid transmission in the country.
Their study suggested that the 'R' number in the North West was at 1.01, the highest of England's regions.
It has sparked fears that the virus could be on the rise, and that there could be a second wave in the pandemic.
But at today's briefing from Downing Street, Mr Hancock insisted 'we are winning the battle' with the virus.
He said: "I know there has been a lot of interest in the regional R figure in recent days.
"The estimate of SAGE, taking into account all of the evidence, is that R is below one in all regions.
"We can see that in all areas the number of people in hospital with coronavirus is falling in all regions, faster in some areas than in others."
Responding to the Public Health England and Cambridge University study last week, Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “It’s very worrying.
"It appears, I would say, that lockdown has been relaxed too early, given the fact that ‘track, test and trace’ is some way from being up and running.
"I think it begs the question as to whether the advice is right to people in the North West."
