The UK’s reproduction or R rate has risen to a range of between 1.3 and 1.6, above last week’s estimates of 1.2 to 1.5.

The R rate, published by the government’s independent committee of scientists Government Office for Science and Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on 2 October, means that on average, every 10 people with coronavirus will infect 13 to 16 other people.