The COVID Diaries – 69 5th June
It increasingly looks as though the decision to ease the national lockdown has been a mistake as the R value (reinfection rate) is rising across England.
A new study from scientists at Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Cambridge, puts R at 1.01 for the north-west and 1 for the south-west. The north-west includes Liverpool and Manchester and is particularly concerning due to higher numbers of infections there.
The development raises concern that a return to stricter physical distancing will be needed and that the UK could continue to see hundreds of deaths every day for weeks.