Nottinghamshire's R-rate could now be as high as 1.3, according to health officials.
Nottinghamshire County Council's analysts say the R-rate (or reproduction rate) is now between 1.0 and 1.3 as of Friday, October 22.
Around a month ago it was thought to be, roughly, below 1.0.
An R number of 1.0 means that, on average, every person who is infected will infect one other person and therefore any number above 1.0 means the virus is more readily spreading.
It comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned people ahead of the winter months.
He said: "Am I saying that if we don’t do our bit, get vaccinated, all those behavioural changes that we can make, that we are more likely to face restrictions as we head into winter? Then I am saying that.
“I think we’ve been really clear that we’ve all got a role to play."
Some of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's main areas where Covid rates are higher than the national average include Mapperley and Wollaton.
Some areas, particularly those inhabited by students, are however recording much lower rates.
This, according to health officials, may be down to their cooperation in getting vaccinated as well as preparation done before September by the two universities.
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