The number of coronavirus R has dropped to between 0.8 and 1 across the UK, according to the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ).

 

It is the first time that the virus' reproductive rate has fallen below 1 since early December, raising hopes that the epidemic is declining as blocking measures take effect. Sage estimates that the growth rate of the outbreak is now between -4 and 0 percent.