THE 'R rate' in the South West has increased once again and is now the highest in the country.

The fresh data, which has been released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on Friday, January 8 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 is now between 1.1 - 1.5, which is higher than the latest R number range for the UK of 1.0 - 1.4.

The current growth rate in the region, including Dorset, is set at +2 to +8, meaning that new infections are growing between two per cent to eight per cent every day.

The South West previously had an R rate of 1.0 - 1.2, with a growth rate between one per cent to three per cent.

The R rate for the South West is the highest across the country, with the R Rate in England, London, Midlands, North East and Yorkshire and South East all at 1.1 - 1.4.

These are the latest R estimates by NHS England region: 

Region - R Growth rate - per day

England: 1.1-1.4, +1 to +6

East of England: 1.1-1.3, +1 to +6

London: 1.1-1.4, +1 to +6

Midlands: 1.1-1.4, +1 to +7

North East and Yorkshire: 1.1-1.4, +1 to +6

North West: 1.0-1.4, 0 to +6

South East: 1.1-1.4, +1 to +6

South West: 1.1-1.5, +2 to +8

It comes after Public Health Dorset confirmed two new mobile coronavirus testing units will be available at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Portland and Station Road Car Park in Sturminster Newton from Monday, January 11 - taking the total number of coronavirus testing sites in Dorset to 11.