Covid-19 cases fell in more than half of London boroughs, according to the latest figures, despite the return of schools and an increase in mass testing.
However, they also show some large rises in some boroughs, though often from low rates.
The biggest jump was in Bexley where confirmed infections more than doubled in a week.
Health chiefs believe cases will rise as the lockdown is eased and more workplaces and other settings adopt mass testing, which is already happening for schools after they reopened.
But with so many adults aged over 50 now vaccinated after Britain’s world-leading vaccine roll-out, they do not expect hospitalisations and deaths to increase at anything like the same rate.
The figures show that:
- The seven-day rate for the capital was 37.2 confirmed new infections per 100,000 Londoners in the week to March 24, up 0.4 per cent on the previous week, and the first time it has risen in comparison to the previous week since January 8.
- The seven-day rate for Londoners aged 60 and over, who are far more vulnerable to the virus but the vast majority of who have now been vaccinated, was 16, compared to 41.4 for those aged 59 and younger.
- Confirmed coronavirus cases fell in 17 boroughs in the week to March 24, compared to the previous seven days.
- They were down at least a quarter in four boroughs, with Kingston seeing the biggest drop of 32.3 per cent, followed by Newham down 28.3 per cent, Croydon 27.1 per cent and Havering 25 per cent.
- The largest increase was in Bexley of 105.1 per cent, followed by Barking and Dagenham 75 per cent, Kensington and Chelsea 50 per cent, and Hackney and the City of London 43.8 per cent.
- Thirteen boroughs had a seven-day rate between 20 to 30 confirmed new infections per 100,000 in the week to March 24, with a further eight having a rate between 30 and 40.
- The lowest rates were in Croydon and Camden, both at 22.2.
- The highest rate was in Hounslow at 71.4.
- A further 386 confirmed cases were announced for London yesterday.
- A further 25,431 first dose vaccinations were announced yesterday to have been administered in London, taking the total so far to 3,128,631.
- A further 7,976 second dose jabs were announced yesterday to have been administered in the city, taking the total so far to 338,801.
- Twenty-nine coronavirus patients were admitted to London hospitals on Saturday.
- There were 733 patients with Covid in the city’s hospitals, as of yesterday, with 158 so ill that they are on ventilators.
- There were 15 deaths, within 28 days of the individuals testing positive for coronavirus, in London in the week to March 28.
The detailed figures for London show that:
- Kingston saw 63 cases, in the week to March 24, down 30 (32.3%) with a seven-day rate of 35.5
- Newham 119 cases, down 47 (28.3%) rate 33.7
- Croydon 86 cases, down 32 (27.1%) rate 22.2
- Havering 72 cases, down 24 (25%) rate 27.7
- Westminster 69 cases, down 21 (23.3%) rate 26.4
- Sutton 61 cases, down 18 (22.8%) rate 29.6
- Hillingdon 182 cases, down 50 (21.6%) rate 59.3
- Islington 72 cases, down 14 (16.3%) rate 29.7
- Bromley 82 cases, down 15 (15.5%) rate 24.7
- Harrow 123 cases, down 19 (13.4%) rate 49
- Wandsworth 116 cases, down 15 (11.5%) rate 35.2
- Lewisham 80 cases, down 10 (11.1%) rate 26.2
- Tower Hamlets 103 cases, down 11 (9.6%) rate 31.7
- Ealing 190 cases, down 8 (4%) rate 55.6
- Lambeth 97 cases, down 4 (4%) rate 29.8
- Barnet 101 cases, down 2 (1.9%) rate 25.5
- Camden 60 cases, down 1 (1.6%) rate 22.2
- Merton 99 cases, up 5 (5.3%) rate 47.9
- Southwark 82 cases, up 5 (6.5%) rate 25.7
- Haringey 76 cases, up 6 (8.6%) rate 28.3
- Brent 176 cases, up 15 (9.3%) rate 53.4
- Richmond 70 cases, up 6 (9.4%) rate 35.4
- Enfield 110 cases, up 11 (11.1%) rate 33
- Redbridge 158 cases, up 23 (17%) rate 51.8
- Hounslow 194 cases, up 31 (19%) rate 71.4
- Hammersmith and Fulham 77 cases, up 15 (24.2%) rate 41.6
- Waltham Forest 102 cases, up 21 (25.9%) rate 36.8
- Greenwich 137 cases, up 35 (34.3%) rate 47.6
- Hackney and City of London 69 cases, up 21 (43.8%) rate 23.7
- Kensington and Chelsea 51 cases, up 17 (50%) rate 32.7
- Barking and Dagenham 140 cases, up 60 (75.0%) rate 65.8
- Bexley 121 cases, up 62 (105.1%) rate 48.7
