THE 'R rate' in the South West has decreased for the second week in a row after Dorset was placed in Tier 2 alert. 

The fresh data, which has been released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on Friday, November 27, 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 'R rate' for the South West is currently between 0.9 - 1.1, which is slightly higher than the latest R number range for the UK of 0.9 -1.0.

The current growth rate in South West, including Dorset, is set at -2 to +2. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change. A growth rate of +2 per cent indicates the epidemic is growing faster than a growth rate of +1 per cent.

Likewise, a growth rate of -2% indicates the epidemic is shrinking faster than a growth rate of -1 per cent.

Last week, the South West had an R rate of 1.0 - 1.3, with a growth rate between one to four per cent.

The R rate for the South West is the joint third-highest across England along with the East of England and Midlands. London and South East both have the highest R rates. 

These are the latest R estimates by NHS England region: 

Region - R Growth rate - per day

England: 0.9-1.0, -2 to +1

East of England: 0.9-1.1, +1 to +2

London: 1.0-1.1, 0 to +2

Midlands: 0.9-1.1, -2 to +1

North East and Yorkshire: 0.8-1.0, -3 to 0

North West: 0.7-0.9, -5 to -2

South East: 1.0-1.2, 0 to +3

South West: 0.9-1.1, -2 to +2

The news comes as Dorset will be in the 'high' tier category when lockdown ends on Wednesday, December 2.

Both Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will be under the Tier 2 restrictions, despite being in Tier 1 category pre-lockdown.

This is despite the rate of infection in Dorset Council currently stands far lower than the national average.

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils, said in a public briefing that while residents may have been “surprised or disappointed” about the Tier 2 announcement, he explained a number of factors were considered.

The five factors used to determine tiers include case detection rates in all age groups, case detection rates in the over 60s, the rate at which cases are rising or falling, pressure on the NHS, and the positivity rate.

Mr Crowe explained that Dorset has been placed in Tier 2 due to its high cases among over 60s and coronavirus patients in Dorset hospitals.

He noted that cases among the over 60s “is high but it is coming down” and approximately 140 to 155 people were in Dorset hospitals with coronavirus.