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London Tier 3 warning as drop in Covid cases stalls ahead of first weekend since lockdown ended

<p>Professor Kevin Fenton urged people to stick to social distancing and self-isolation rules</p> (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

Professor Kevin Fenton urged people to stick to social distancing and self-isolation rules

(Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

A public health chief warned today of the risk of London being plunged into Tier 3 restrictions as the squeeze on Covid-19 cases appears to be faltering.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London director for Public Health England, urged people to stick to social distancing and self-isolation rules ahead of the first weekend since lockdown was lifted.

He spoke out as a dramatic fall in confirmed Covid cases in the capital seems to be levelling off, according to official figures.

Prof Fenton told The Standard: “The promising reductions we had begun to see with the recent national restrictions across the capital have shown signs of slowing in recent days - a stark reminder of just how delicate our situation is.

“If we want to avoid being placed into Tier 3, it is vital we keep transmission down.”

With lockdown having ended on Wednesday, he added: “As we make plans to go out this weekend, whether it’s shopping, eating out or meeting with friends outside, it is vital we remain vigilant and keep in mind that the virus is still present.

“Our actions over this weekend and in the weeks ahead will make a big difference to our outlook over the festive period and into the New Year.

Official figures show the seven-day infection rate in the capital was virtually unchanged in four days, with latest data putting it at 155.8 new cases per 100,000 population in the week to November 28.

It was 154.3, 154.5 and 156.1 for the previous three days, having fallen at a significantly faster rate since mid-November.

Seven boroughs in inner London, Westminster, Camden, Islington, Southwark, Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham, are close to a rate of 100 new confirmed cases per 100,000 population, far lower than a number of areas in the outer parts of the capital including Redbridge on 306 and Havering 286.

Prof Fenton added: “We are continuing to see a mixed picture of cases across London’s boroughs, with much higher levels in the north east of the city.

“However, even in those areas that have had the biggest declines, rates are still far too high.”

Twenty-six borough areas still saw falls in cases numbers in the week to November 28 but many of them were smaller drops than in earlier days.

It is still too early to say definitely whether the recent changes in the confirmed cases will develop into a trend, as the figures can be affected by a small number of outbreaks, more testing and other factors.

But the latest data will raise concerns that cases could start to rise in coming weeks after lockdown and as the winter weather closes in.

London went into Tier 2 this week after narrowly escaping being put into Tier 3 in a “borderline” decision by Cabinet ministers.

It means restaurants and many pubs have been able to re-open, though they can only serve alcohol with a “substantial” meal.

The latest figures show Hammersmith & Fulham saw 186 confirmed cases in the week to November 28, down 105 (36.1 per cent) with a rate of 100.5, Enfield 510 cases, down 204 (28.6 per cent) with a rate of 152.8, Lambeth 326 cases, down 112 (25.6 per cent) with a rate of 100, Greenwich 424 cases, down 118 (21.8 per cent) with a rate of 147.3, Harrow 342 cases, down 95 (21.7 per cent) with a rate of 136.2, Croydon 489 cases, down 123 (20.1 per cent) with a rate of 126.5, Brent 527 cases, down 131 (19.9 per cent) with a rate of 159.8, Hillingdon 479 cases, down 112 (19 per cent) with a rate of 156.1, Westminster 247 cases, down 54 (17.9 per cent) with a rate of 94.5 and Islington 250 cases, down 53 (17.5 per cent) with a rate of 103.1.

In Kensington and Chelsea there were 168 cases, down 35 (17.2 per cent) with a rate of 107.6, Hounslow 455 cases, down 91 (16.7 per cent) with a rate of 167.6, Havering 744 cases, down 133 (15.2 per cent) with a rate of 286.6, Ealing 601 cases, down 94 (13.5 per cent) with a rate of 175.8, Sutton 258 cases, down 40 (13.4 per cent) with a rate of 125, Richmond 179 cases, down 27 (13.1 per cent) with a rate of 90.4, Tower Hamlets 650 cases, down 92 (12.4 per cent) with a rate of 200.2, Southwark 312 cases, down 34 (9.8 per cent) with a rate of 97.9, Hackney and City of London 406 cases, down 33 (7.5 per cent) with a rate of 139.6, Wandsworth 339 cases, down 27 (7.4 per cent) with a rate of 102.8, Merton 339 cases, down 27 (7.4 per cent) with a rate of 164.1, Barnet 570 cases, down 38 (6.2 per cent) with a rate of 144, Bexley 542 cases, down 33 (5.7 per cent) with a rate of 218.3, Barking and Dagenham 542 cases, down 23 (4.1 per cent) with a rate of 254.6, Waltham Forest 568 cases, down 20 (3.4 per cent) with a rate of 205.1, and Haringey 357 cases, down one (0.3 per cent) with a rate of 132.9.

Kingston saw 318 cases, a rise of 48 (17.8 per cent) with a rate of 179.1, Camden 262 cases, up 27 (11.5 per cent) with a rate of 97, Bromley 479 cases, up 27 (6 per cent) with a rate of 144.1, Newham 830 cases, up 39 (4.9 per cent) with a rate of 235, Redbridge 934 cases, up 25 (2.8 per cent) with a rate of 306, and Lewisham 326 cases, up eight (2.5 per cent) with a rate of 106.6.

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