THE UK’s Covid-19 reproduction number has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4, it has been confirmed.

The figure, known as the ‘R’ number, details how fast the virus is spreading.

Meanwhile, the latest growth rate range for the UK is between +2 per cent and +7 per cent.

The ‘R’ number in the north west is between 1.2 and 1.5, according to the Government’s website, while the region’s growth rate stands at between +3 per cent and +8 per cent.

It comes as Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister is considering new national restrictions for a short period to curb the spread of the virus.

An R number between 1.1 and 1.4 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 14 other people.

A growth rate between +2 per cent and +7 per cent means the number of new infections is growing by 2 per cent to 7 per cent every day.

The UK estimates of the 'R' number and growth rate are averages over 'very different epidemiological situations' and should be regarded as a guide to the general trend 'rather than a description of the epidemic state'.

An R number of 1 means that, on average, every person who is infected will infect 1 other person, meaning the total number of infections is stable.

If R is 2, on average, each infected person infects 2 more people. If R is 0.5 then on average for each 2 infected people, there will be 1 new infection.

If R is greater than 1 the epidemic is growing, if R is less than 1 the epidemic is shrinking.

The higher R is above 1, the more people 1 infected person infects and so the faster the epidemic grows.