The R number is not at all real. it is the numerical variable used to fit a regression curve to experimentally obtained data . basically .. we have measured this pattern, the curve that best describes it is this polynomial and with these indices . Anything which affects the experimental measurement impacts the R number . It is not a constant like e or pi .
the information I am getting from my UK cousins and family is that they see changed behaviors .
It is real its not constant. My point was to do with however you measure transmission it was claimed new strain was much easier to catch. (figures were claimed to be 70% higher and that R value would be increased by 0.4)
With our current, and hopefully sustained, drop in infections such an increase in transmission does not seem possible. (if it is 70% easier to transmit we, d have to lockdown 70% more efficiently to show reduction in numbers as we did in lockdown 1,fact is the drop off of numbers has shown steeper decline)
I was simply posing question why?
And drop off we have seen has fortunately been more pronounced than predicted.??
As for lockdown 2 being more pronounced, I don't think so. Far more people are at work and school's have at least double number of pupils.???