SOUTH Yorkshire is the latest area in England to face Tier 3 local lockdown.

But how does the spread of the virus compare in Test Valley, to areas in South Yorkshire?

The current average UK R rate ranges between 1.3 and 1.5 with a growth rate range of between +4 per cent and +7 per cent per day.

An R number between 1.3 and 1.5 means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 13 and 15 other people.

A growth rate between +4 per cent and +7 per cent means the number of new infections is growing by 4 per cent to 7 per cent every day.

Below we compare the figures from South Yorkshire to Test Valley.

The numbers show that our area is facing a much more gradual spread than the areas facing Tier 3 and has declined from the previous seven days:

Test Valley

R rate for seven days to October 16th: 59.4

Number of new cases confirmed in same period: 75

Previous R rate for seven days to October 9th: 80

Barnsley

R rate for seven days to October 16th: 388.9

Number of new cases confirmed in same period: 960 

Previous R rate for seven days to October 9th: 254

Doncaster

R rate for seven days to October 16th: 310.4

Number of new cases confirmed in same period: 968 

Previous R rate for seven days to October 9th: 202

Rotherham

R rate for seven days to October 16th: 350.0

Number of new cases confirmed in same period: 929 

Previous R rate for seven days to October 9th: 272 

Sheffield

R rate for seven days to October 16th: 406.1

Number of new cases confirmed in same period: 2375 

Previous R rate for seven days to October 9th: 466.6