Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the COVID-19 R-number is calculated separately for transmission in (1) the community, (2) hospitals, (3) care homes, and (4) different UK regions; and if so, what plans they have to publish those separate R-numbers.

The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. Because outbreaks in care homes, hospitals and the community are interlinked, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and its subgroups do not calculate them separately. The current range is estimated to be 0.7-1.0 and is based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates.

The Government is committed to publishing the scientific evidence that has informed the SAGE’s advice. These papers are being published in batches. The latest batches were released on 20 May and 22 May and the next batch will be published in due course. The full list of papers reviewed to date is available in an online only format on GOV.UK. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at recent and future meetings.