The reproduction number, or R rate, of coronavirus transmission across the UK may have dropped below 1, according to the latest government figures.
According to an estimate from the Government Science Office (GSO) published on Friday, the R rate sits at between 0.9 and 1.0.
Last week the Government Science Office (GSO) estimated the R rate was between 1.0 and 1.1, down from between 1.0 and 1.2.
It is the first time the R rate has been below 1 since September 4.
R measures the number of people, on average, that each sick person will infect.
If R is greater than 1 the epidemic is generally seen to be growing; if R is less than 1 the epidemic is shrinking.
The figures published by the government on Friday also include regional R numbers for England.
According to the estimates, all regions apart from London and the South East may have an R rate below 1.
East of England: 0.9-1.1
London: 1.0-1.1
Midlands: 0.9-1.1
North East and Yorkshire: 0.8-1.0
North West: 0.7-0.9
South East: 1.0-1.2
South West: 0.9-1.1
It comes after Boris Johnson announced which areas of the country will be placed into which tier from December 2.
A full list of which tier each area of England will be under can be seen here.
London, which has an estimated R rate of 1.0-1.1 is in tier 2, whereas Manchester, which is in tier 3, is in a region with an R rate of 0.7-0.9.
Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday the R rate in Scotland remained unchanged at just below one
The latest coronavirus rates for Wales, for November 20, was estimated to be between 0.8 and 1.0. An update is expected later on Friday.
The R rate in Northern Ireland is currently sitting just below 1.
Almost 99% of the English population will be placed into the two highest tiers.
More than 23m (41.48%) people will be under tier 3 restrictions, with more than 32m (57.25%) in tier 2, which has been made more stringent during the current lockdown.
Cornwall was the only place on the English mainland to fall under tier 1, joined by the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly, with the three areas covering just 713,573 people – or 1.27% of the population.
The prime minister is facing a serious rebellion from Tory MPs over the plan, and may have to rely on Labour votes to get the measures through parliament next week.