THE 'R rate' for the South West has shrunk again as Covid-19 cases across the region continue to fall. 

The fresh data, which has been released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on Friday, February 26 rates the ability to spread Covid-19 and the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus on to, on average.

The updated 'R rate' for the South West, including Dorset, has decreased to between 0.6 - 0.8, which is below the latest R number range for the UK of 0.6 - 0.9.

The Government says an R-value between 0.6 and 0.8 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between six and eight other people.

The current growth rate in the South West is set at -7 to -4. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.

A growth rate of -7 per cent indicates the epidemic is shrinking faster than a growth rate of -6 per cent.

Last week, the South West had an R rate of 0.6 - 0.9, with a growth rate between -7 per cent to -3 per cent.

The R rate for the South West is among the lowest in the country as the R Rate for multiple regions of the country continues to fall due to the national lockdown.

These are the latest R estimates by NHS England regions: 

Region - R Growth rate - per day

England: 0.7 to 0.9, -5 to -3

East of England: 0.6 to 0.8, -7 to -4

London: 0.6 to 0.8, -8 to -5

Midlands: 0.7 to 0.9, -6 to -3

North East and Yorkshire: 0.7 to 0.9, -5 to -2

North West: 0.7 to 0.9, -6 to -2

South East: 0.7 to 0.9,-5 to -2

South West: 0.6 to 0.8, -7 to -4