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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Talia Shadwell

England's R rate remains at 1.2 to 1.4 as Delta variant spread continues

England's 'R' rate and growth has remained at 1.2 to 1.4 after rising in previous weeks.

The latest growth rate range was between 3% and 6% - the same figure as last week, officials say.

Last Friday the R rate had risen to between 1.2 and 1.4, up from 1-1.2.

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

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.

A growth rate of between 3% and 6% means that the number of new infections is growing by between 3% and 6% every day.

Public Health England (PHE) said the Delta variant now accounts for 90% of all infections in England.

Boris Johnson blamed the strain's spread for his government's decision to delay 'freedom day' by a month.

The fourth and final step in the roadmap out of lockdown was shifted from June 21 to July 19.

The Prime Minister said the move would buy vaccinators more time to put jabs in arms in the race against the variant's spread.

He announced fresh targets to offer all over-18s in the UK a first dose and two-thirds of all adults a second dose by July 19.

Earlier today, PHE said a total 33,630 new Delta variant cases had been discovered in the past week.

The figure was an increase of 12% on the 29,892 Delta infections recorded in England in the seven days to June 9.

The government is hoping to vaccinate all UK adults by July 19 (Getty Images)

In the previous week the case numbers had doubled, with the latest figures a sign the infection rate could be slowing.

However hundreds more people were admitted to hospital in the seven-day period, with new admissions nearly doubling to 806.

Covid vaccines for over-18s opened today with the NHS urging young adults to book their appointments.

Areas of England's North West have been hardest hit by the new Delta variant (AFP via Getty Images)

The R rate remained highest in England's hard-hit North West, according to a regional breakdown.

The area, which has consistently recorded the highest number of Delta variant cases, recorded an R estimate of 1.3 to 1.5 with a growth rate of 5 to 8.

The South West recorded the highest growth range of 1 to 9 with an R of 1.0-1.5.

The East of England, South East, North East and Yorkshire, and Midlands were all recording R rate estimates that were no higher than a maximum 1.3.

London's R is estimated to be between 1.1. to 1.4 with a growth rate of 2% to 6%.

As of Friday, the UK's vaccine rollout was continuing at pace.

The latest available figures showed more than 42million first doses of the jab had been given by Thursday, and nearly 31m second doses.

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