The reproduction number, or R rate, of coronavirus transmission across the UK has fallen again to between 0.8 and 1, according to the latest government figures.

It represents a drop from last week’s estimate of between 0.9 and 1.0, in further potential evidence that the four-week lockdown in England is helping to reduce infections.

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 latest estimate came during the week the national lockdown ended and nearly 99% of England was placed into tier 2 and 3 coronavirus restrictions.

Regional R numbers across England, as estimated by the government science office

East of England 0.9 – 1.0 (no change)

London 0.9 – 1.1 (down from 1.0 – 1.1)

Midlands 0.8 – 0.9 (down from 0.9 – 1.1)

North East and Yorkshire 0.7 – 0.9 (down from 0.8 – 1.0)

North West 0.7 – 0.9 (no change)

South East 0.9 – 1.1 (down from 1.0 – 1.2)

South West 0.7 – 1.0 (down from 0.9 – 1.1)

It came as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that there were an average of 25,700 new cases per day of Covid-19 in private households in England between November 22 and 28.

This is down from an estimated 38,900 new cases per day for the period November 8 to 14 and is the lowest estimate since the end of September.

The figures do not include people staying in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.

An estimated 521,300 people in private households in England had Covid-19 between November 22 and 28, the ONS said.

This is the equivalent of around 0.96% of the population.

The figures represent a drop from 633,000 people, or 1.16% of the population, who were estimated to have Covid-19 in the period November 15 to 21.