UK coronavirus R rate rises to between 1.1 and 1.4

The coronavirus R rate in the UK has increased to between 1.1 and 1.4, the Government's Sage committee has said.

The R rate measures the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average.

The higher R is above 1, the faster the epidemic is growing.

It comes as Downing Street has rejected claims that people are not able to get coronavirus tests in some areas of the country.

Despite widespread criticism over delays in getting tests, the Government insisted the system is working.

Asked about testing levels, a Downing Street spokesman said: “We are ramping up capacity, or working to ramp up capacity in terms of tests.

“I am not aware of anything to suggest that tests are not available in some parts of the country.”

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