UK 'R' rate edges up to 1.3-1.5 but infection growth slows

FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians walk near public health signs, whilst the reproduction "R" number of COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom has risen and may be above 1, the Government Office for Science said on Friday, indicating a risk that the overall epidemic is growing, London, Britain, September 11, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

The UK's COVID-19 reproduction "R" number edged up to 1.3-1.5 from 1.2-1.5, government scientists said on Friday, meaning on average every 10 people infected will infect between 13 and 15 others.

However, the estimated daily growth rate of the disease was +4% to +7%, compared to +4% to +9%, implying the growth in infections may be slowing.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Stephen Addison)