Guidance

Reproduction number (R) and growth rate: methodology

How the R value and growth rate estimates are produced.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 30 April 2021
• Last updated: 6 September 2021 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Reproduction number (R) and growth rate: methodology

HTML

Details

The Department of Health and Social Care publishes estimates of the reproduction number (R) and growth rate for England and the 7 NHS England regions. This document outlines how these estimates are produced and assured for publication.

This document refers mainly to the production of the R value and growth rate for England and its regions. However, the same process applies to estimates of the R value and growth rates for Scotland and Wales.

The devolved administrations publish estimates of the R value and growth rate for their own nations. Scotland and Wales use UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates of the R value and growth rate. In Northern Ireland, the R value is produced by the COVID-19 modelling group on behalf of the Department of Health.

• R value and growth rate for Scotland
• R value and growth rate for Wales (Cymraeg)
• R value for Northern Ireland

Published 30 April 2021
Last updated 6 September 2021 + show all updates

1. 6 September 2021

   Updated the methodology for R and growth rate estimates.

2. 23 July 2021

   Updated to reflect JBC taking on responsibility for R and growth rate estimates.

3. 30 April 2021

   First published.