THE South West's 'R rate' has changed, according to the latest Government update. 

The fresh data, which has been released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on Friday, June 4 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 now stands at between 0.8 to 1.1, which is lower than the latest R number range for the UK of 1.0 - 1.2. The national R Rate has increased from last week's rate of 1.0 - 1.1.

The Government says an R-value between 0.8 and 1.1 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between eight and 11 other people.

The current growth rate in the South West is set at -3 to 1. The size of the growth rate indicates the speed of change.

A growth rate of between -3 per cent and 1 per cent means that the number of new infections could be growing by up to one per cent every day.

Last week, the South West had an R rate of 0.9 - 1.1 with a growth rate of -1 to 3. 

These are the latest R estimates by NHS England regions: 

Region - R Growth rate - per day

England: 1.0 to 1.2, 0 to 3

East of England: 1.0 to 1.2, 0 to 3

London: 1.0 to 1.2, 0 to 3

Midlands: 1.0 to 1.2, -1 to 2

North East and Yorkshire: 0.9 to 1.1, -2 to 1

North West: 1.0 to 1.3, 2 to 5

South East: 1.0 to 1.2, 0 to 4

South West: 0.8 to 1.1, -3 to 1

A Government spokesman however urged caution when interpreting the R Rate for various regions. 

He said: "Estimates of the R value span 1 for England and some NHS England regions.

"This does not necessarily mean R is definitively above 1 and that the epidemic is increasing, but that the uncertainty means it cannot be ruled out.

"When the numbers of cases, hospital admissions or deaths are at low levels and/or there is a high degree of variability in transmission across a region, then care should be taken when interpreting estimates of R and the growth rate.