How the Covid R number in the North-East and Yorkshire compares with rest of UK

The Government has published the latest 'R' number in each part of the country as it says cases "remain dangerously high" across the UK.

On Friday, latest R estimates for the whole of the UK were revealed as between 0.8 and 1.0, with the growth rate estimate at between minus 4 per cent and minus 1 per cent.

The estimated growth rate means that the number of new infections is likely to be reducing by between 1 per cent 4 per cent every day.

In the North-East and Yorkshire, the R rate is between 0.8 and 1.1 with a growth rate estimate of between minus 3 and plus 1.

This means that the likelihood of new infections in our region is still higher than the national average - but not the UKs highest, which is the South-West.

The data, which is based on latest information available up to January 18, is understood to only partially-reflect the effects of national lockdown restrictions as data usually lags several days behind.

This comes as the North-East and Yorkshire is set to see its Covid vaccine supply reduced in a bid to allow other parts of the region to catch up with our vaccination rates.

As the R number was released, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "Cases remain dangerously high and we must remain vigilant to keep this virus under control, to protect the NHS and save lives.

"It is essential that everyone continues to stay at home, whether they have had the vaccine or not.

"We all need to play our part, and if everyone continues to follow the rules, we can expect to drive down the R number across the country."

How the North-East and Yorkshire compares with the rest of the UK:

UK - 0.8 to 1.0 (-4 to -1 growth rate)

England - 0.8 to 1.0 (-4 to 0)

East - 0.6 to 0.9 (-8 to -2)

London - 0.7 to 0.9 (-7 to -3)

Midlands - 0.9 to 1.2 (-2 to +2)

North-East and Yorkshire 0.8 to 1.1 (-3 to +1)

North-West - 0.9 to 1.2 (-2 to +2)

South-East - 0.7 to 1.0 (-6 to -2)

South-West - 0.9 to 1.2 (-2 to +3)