Some boroughs, particularly those with a low level of the disease, are seeing their daily seven-day rate fluctuate up and down
(Picture: Evening Standard)Covid-19 cases have fallen so fast in London that the seven-day rate in half of boroughs has gone below 40 new confirmed infections per 100,000 people a week, official figures reveal today.
They show that Lewisham had the lowest rate in the week to March 4 of just 22.6 new cases per 100,000.
The rate was 26.5 in Bromley, 26.8 in Hackney and the City of London, 28.3 in Haringey, 28.8 in Kensington and Chelsea, and 29 in Bexley.
Ten other boroughs had a rate above 30 but below 40; Havering, Tower Hamlets, Richmond, Islington, Camden, Enfield, Southwark, Lambeth, Kingston and Westminster. The figures show that:
* Confirmed cases fell fastest in Hackney and the City of London, down 53.3 per cent in the week to March 4, followed by Haringey 51.6 per cent and Bexley 50.7 per cent.
* The highest seven-day rate was in Ealing on 74.3, with Hounslow second on 74, then Hillingdon on 69.1.
* The rate for London was 43.5, down 33.8 per cent on a week earlier.
* Some boroughs, particularly those with a low level of the disease, are seeing their daily seven-day rate fluctuate up and down.
* Weekly cases were down by at least a quarter in 24 boroughs, compared to the previous seven days.
* The smallest drop was in Westminster of 5.5 per cent, followed by Newham 5.6 per cent and Waltham Forest 7.7 per cent.
* A further 631 confirmed cases were announced for London on Tuesday, with the mass testing in schools and surge testing for new variants in parts of the capital, including Croydon, Barnet, Brent, Lambeth and Redbridge, expected to push up the daily figures.
* The real number of coronavirus cases is significantly higher than the confirmed totals, partly because so many people have the virus asymptomatically.
* Public health chiefs and ministers are urging people in London and the rest of the country to continue to follow the lockdown rules to reduce the disease levels further, with the easing of restrictions having started with the re-opening of schools on Monday.
A growing number of MPs, including Greg Clark, the influential chairman of the Commons science and technology committee, are raising questions over whether lockdown should be eased more quickly given the significant fall in Covid cases and the economic and health damage caused by the restrictions.
England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty strongly defended the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, which will see restrictions very largely lifted by June 21, warning that speeding up the timetable would significantly increase the risk of a large surge in cases and more Covid fatalities.
However, Boris Johnson may come under growing pressure to re-examine his blueprint after Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would consider easing restrictions “quicker than previously anticipated” if possible, with measures set to be relaxed outdoors north of the border on Friday.
Up to four adults from up to two households will be able to meet outdoors rather than two adults from two households. This will include for social and recreational purposes, and be permitted in private gardens.
Youngsters aged 12 to 17-year-old will be able to meet outdoors with a maximum of four people, but the two-household limit will not apply.
Outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise will be permitted for all adults in groups of up to 15 people.
The detailed figures for London show that:
* In Hackney and City of London, there were 78 cases in the week to March 4, down 89 (53.3%) with a seven-day rate of 26.8
* Haringey 76 cases, down 81 (51.6%) rate 28.3
* Bexley 72 cases, down 74 (50.7%) rate 29
* Bromley 88 cases, down 72 (45%) rate 26.5
* Croydon 158 cases, down 126 (44.4%) rate 40.9
* Lewisham 69 cases, down 52 (43%) rate 22.6
* Havering 96 cases, down 71 (42.5%) rate 37
* Wandsworth 139 cases, down 72 (34.1%) rate 42.2
* Merton 97 cases, down 67 (40.9%) rate 47
* Sutton 99 cases, down 66 (40%) rate 48
* Ealing 254 cases, down 168 (39.8%) rate 74.3
* Barnet 181 cases, down 114 (38.6%) rate 45.7
* Harrow 150 cases, down 90 (37.5%) rate 59.7
* Brent 191 cases, down 112 (37%) rate 57.9
* Tower Hamlets 109 cases, down 63 (36.6%) rate 33.6
* Hounslow 201 cases, down 112 (35.8%) rate 74
* Hammersmith and Fulham 93 cases, down 49 (34.5%) rate 50.2
* Redbridge 149 cases, down 74 (33.2%) rate 48.8
* Kensington and Chelsea 45 cases, down 21 (31.8%) rate 28.8
* Richmond 74 cases, down 34 (31.5%) rate 37.4
* Islington 73 cases, down 33 (31.1%) rate 30.1
* Barking and Dagenham 129 cases, down 54 (29.5%) rate 60.6
* Hillingdon 212 cases, down 86 (28.9%) rate 69.1
* Camden 84 cases, down 31 (27%) rate 31.1
* Enfield 121 cases, down 40 (24.8%) rate 36.2
* Southwark 102 cases, down 31 (23.3%) rate 32.0
* Lambeth 127 cases, down 33 (20.6%) rate 39
* Kingston 68 cases, down 17 (20%) rate 38.3
* Greenwich 129 cases, down 32 (19.9%) rate 44.8
* Waltham Forest 132 cases, down 11 (7.7%) rate 47.7
* Newham 203 cases, down 12 (5.6%) rate 57.5
* Westminster 103 cases, down six (5.5%) rate 39.4
