South East R rate: scientists and government row over latest number

The latest figures show the coronavirus R rate could have reached 1 in the South East.

The latest government figures for the region show the rate as between 0.8 and 1.

However, experts from Cambridge University reckon it could be as much as 1.02, which would put the region second in the country after the South West's 1.04.

Researchers say the number ranges from between as high as 1.25 and as low as 0.81.

A statement from the university accompanying its new figures reads: "Our current estimate of the number of infections arising each day across England is 3,000 (1,600–5,520, 95 per cent credible interval).

"We predict that the number of deaths each day is likely to be between 43 and 84 by mid-August.

"We estimate it is very likely that R is close to 1 in most regions of England.

"The South West and the South East have the highest probabilities (62 per cent and 57 per cent respectively) that R is above 1.

"The probability of exceeding 1 is less than 20 per cent only for the east of England and the Midlands."

The estimated R rates for other regions are below

England 0.8-1.0 (-4 to -1)
East of England 0.7-1.0 (-6 to -1)
London 0.8-1.0 (-4 to 0)
Midlands 0.7-0.9 (-6 to -2)
North East and Yorkshire 0.7-0.9 (-6 to -2)
North West 0.8-1.1 (-5 to +1)
South East 0.8-1.0 (-3 to 0)
South West 0.8-1.1 (-4 to +1)
The growth rate in the UK as a whole sits at -1 to -4.

The Government says that the true R values are "somewhere towards the middle" of the ranges that it releases.

How many coronavirus cases have there been in Berkshire?

The total number of cases in the county stands at 3,369 as of July 30.

Reading has seen the most cases with 803, while Bracknell Forest has had the lowest number of cases since the outbreak began, with 388.

There have been a total of 571 deaths at NHS Trusts across the county.

What is R number and the growth rate?

The government says the reproduction number (R) is the average number of people a person infected with coronavirus will pass the virus on to.