London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was refused attendance to the government's emergency COBRA meetings for weeks until yesterday, when Boris Johnson implemented drastic changes to the UK's coronavirus response.
London has recorded almost half of the confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK, according to Public Health England.
Khan appeared on Good Morning Britain today via video link as he listed the major concerns he had about businesses in the capital and rough sleepers.
Speaking to GMB hosts Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins, he said: "I've been asking for some weeks to attend COBRA... for the first time yesterday morning, I had a phone call to attend.
Explaining what was said in the meeting, he said: "I was told by government advisors that London was a few weeks ahead of the rest of the country.
"In London, we've had 23 people who have already lost their lives.
"We can understand why London is further ahead than the rest of the country... what I can tell your viewers is that I think that the advice from the government now is the right advice."
He continued that those who are pregnant, above the age of 70 and with underlying conditions were most at risk.
On Monday, Boris Johnson ramped up the coronavirus advice to Brits, warning people to avoid pubs, clubs and restaurants and work from home wherever possible to slow the spread.
People with a raft of health problems, including diabetics, asthmatics and the severely obese were added to a list of people most at risk from coronavirus, along with pregnant women.
But pub bosses warned that locals will fold 'within days' without government relief whole airlines are in crisis as they face months with no or very few flights.
The mayor agreed, saying that he had chaired a meeting in City Hall with businesses and that the "biggest concern was a lack of clarity".
"Because this isn't a ban, they can't claim on insurance," he explained, suggesting that there if there is a ban, businesses are given relief or help to aid their survival.
He added: "We need government support now."
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
