Wirral's Director of Public Health is urging residents to stay at home as much as possible this weekend, after it emerged that the North West's estimated R number is 1.01.

The Government is trying to keep the R number, which is the number of people an infected person will pass it on to, below one.

If it is greater than one, the epidemic will grow exponentially and residents face a second wave of the virus.

If it is kept below one, the epidemic will ultimately disappear.

Speaking to the Globe, Julie Webster said: “While a local R value (rate of infection) for Wirral is not known, the Northwest rate should be enough indication for residents to continue to take care and think of others as lockdown restrictions are eased.

“Staying at home as much as possible, socially isolating with symptoms and distancing from those outside of your household groups are vital steps we can all take to protect ourselves and our vulnerable from the spread of Coronavirus.

“As the forecast wet weather looks set to dampen beach-goers and picnics this weekend, I am urging Wirral’s residents and potential visitors to continue staying home as much as possible.”

Last week the Globe shared independent research that estimated Wirral's R number to be 0.82, but this revised data from Public Health England suggests that the blended infection rate across the North West is currently just above the R number threshold of one.