Coronavirus cases fall across nearly two thirds of London

CORONAVIRUS cases have fallen across most of London – just as England’s new national lockdown begins.

New positive tests for Covid have fallen in 19 out of 32 boroughs, official figures show.

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Rates of coronavirus have dropped in many of London's boroughs — Rates of coronavirus have dropped in many of London’s boroughsCredit: PA:Press Association

Out of a total of 32 boroughs, 19 have seen decreasing ratesCredit: PA:Press Association

But the figures were revealed as England heads into a new four-week lockdown, which will close all non-essential businesses - including pubs — But the figures were revealed as England heads into a new four-week lockdown, which will close all non-essential businesses – including pubsCredit: AFP or licensors

Previously, the capital had been in Tier 2 of Boris Johnson's three-tier shutdown system — Previously, the capital had been in Tier 2 of Boris Johnson’s three-tier shutdown systemCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun

However, the rate of cases per 100,000 people remains above 100 in every area of the capital.

Following a rise in cases, the city was previously placed under Tier 2 restrictions, which ban casual sex and meeting friends from different households for a pint inside a pub.

The new rules were enforced one minute after midnight on October 17 – and today’s figures suggest that the measures were possibly beginning to work.

However, the entire country entered into a strict new national lockdown today which has closed all non-essential businesses until November 2.

Londoners had already been encouraged to keep away from public transport and work from home where possible.

The areas of London where coronavirus rates are dropping

19 boroughs have seen fewer cases of Covid week on week. They are:

Kingston – cases down 28.3 per cent week on week, with 147.6 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending October 31
Kensington & Chelsea – cases down 21.4 per cent , 119.1
Camden – down 18.1 per cent, 105.9
Hackney and City of London – down 16.1 per cent, 149.9
Ealing – down 16.4 per cent, 188.1
Southwark -down 15.7 per cent, 118.2
Wandsworth – down 15.4 per cent, 132.9
Barnet – down 13.3 per cent, 128.6
Bromley – down 13.2 per cent, 104.4
Haringey – down 11.4 per cent, 141.1
Richmond – down 10.9 per cent, 143.9
Hammersmith & Fulham, 8.5 per cent, 197.7
Brent – 8.5 per cent, 117.4
Hounslow – 4.5 per cent, 180.8
Enfield from – 4.4 per cent, 148.9
Islington – 3.8 per cent, 134
Sutton – 3.3 per cent, 115.3
Tower Hamlets – 2.8 per cent, 168.1
Lewisham – 2.2 per cent, 102

Mayor Sadiq Khan says he believes the city “is seeing initial signs that the increase in infections across the capital has started to slow down”, the Evening Standard reports.

But despite the encouraging signs, the virus is still spreading through vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, and hospitalisations are continuing to rise.

It comes as:

Kingston has seen the biggest drop in confirmed cases, down by 28.3 per cent.

In second place is Kensington and Chelsea, where new cases have fallen by 21.4 per cent, while in Hackney and City of London, the drop is 16.8 per cent.

Ealing – which last week was the capital’s coronavirus hotspot, with more cases per 100,000 people than any other area – has seen positive tests fall by 16.4 per cent.

Southwark, Wandsworth, Barnet and Bromley are also among the boroughs were rates are dropping.

In early October, Tower Hamlets became the first borough to ban households mixing – almost two weeks before Boris Johnson announced the new three-tier lockdown plan.

And rates of the virus have dropped 2.8 per cent week-on-week in the area – after the borough’s mayor John Biggs warned: “We must take all steps necessary to limit the spread of the virus and protect those most at risk.”

Yesterday saw the highest daily Covid death toll since May

Despite the new shutdown across England, commuters could be seen heading to work in the capital this morning

Many wore masks as they left train stations to get to the office

Londoners took the opportunity to enjoy what could be on of the last nights out of the year yesterdayCredit: �2020 Stephen Lock / i-Images

However, cases are continuing to rise in 13 other areas.

Worst-hit is Havering in outer London, where the number of new positive tests has risen by 21.9 per cent.

The borough is followed by Bexley, with a 15.7 per cent rise, and Greenwich, which has seen new cases jump by 17.5 per cent.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “Thanks to the efforts of Londoners we are seeing initial signs that the increase in infections across the capital has started to slow down.

“However, cases remain high and the number of patients in hospital and on ventilators continues to rise.

“That’s why it’s crucial that all Londoners play their part and follow the Government’s latest restrictions.

“We must follow the public health guidance if we are to bring R below one again, reduce case numbers and protect the NHS.

“The Mayor urges Londoners to keep doing all they can to protect each other and once again make the huge collective sacrifice now in order to prevent even greater suffering later.”

Experts say confirmed cases are only an indicator of the level of the disease – and the true number of cases could be two to three times higher than officially reported.

The positivity rate – the proportion of people who are positive for Covid out of those tested – is around 7.7 per cent for the city as a whole.

There were 990 Covid-19 patients in London hospitals on November 3, compared with 792 on October 27.

In addition, there were 145 Covid-19 patients in mechanical ventilation beds in London hospitals on November 3.

That’s compared with 118 patients on October 27.

A new lockdown for England began at one minute past midnight today

Last night, bars and pubs across London were heaving as Brits enjoyed one last drinkCredit: London News Pictures

Outdoor seating areas were full, despite plunging temperaturesCredit: London News Pictures

Under the previous restrictions, Londoners were banned from meeting friends from different households indoorsCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun

As a result, the capital's outside seating areas were heaving as people sought to meet friends for the last time in a month — As a result, the capital’s outside seating areas were heaving as people sought to meet friends for the last time in a monthCredit: EPA

England’s new lockdown may be the first in a ‘rolling’ series, MPs heard this week.

Penny Mordaunt, the paymaster general, said Brits must brace themselves for three or more waves of the deadly virus.

But experts say the Government is basing the need for a second shutdown on ‘bad maths’ – with maps presented to the public at the weekend branded “misleading”.

Heat maps showing the pandemic is out of control – and predicting a worst case scenario of more than 4,000 deaths a day by December – have been called “mathematically incorrect”.

The data, presented by Government scientists during a public address on Saturday, included figures from Public Health England and Cambridge University, which predicted the extreme death toll.

However, one of the scientists who worked on the study says the data was presented incorrectly.

Professor Daniela de Angelis said the curve was made to look like a prediction. In fact, she said, it’s a month-old model that doesn’t take into consideration the new tier system.

These are absolute Noddy Land figures.

Supreme Court Judge Lord Sumption

The Cambridge model has since revised its estimates which are around 1,000 deaths by the start of December.

And former Supreme Court Judge Lord Sumption said the statistic is one of several that “simply don’t bear a moment’s worth of examination”.

“That is a figure which no country has ever come close to. These are absolute Noddy Land figures,” he said.

Despite that, the UK yesterday recorded its highest daily Covid death toll since May.

Virus deaths more than doubled in just a fortnight, with 492 people reported to have lost their lives on Wednesday.

And another 25,177 cases were recorded, the second highest daily increase ever.

Nationally, the worst-hit areas of the UK are in the north.

According to the latest figures, Oldham has 1,759 cases per 100,000 people.

The worst-affected borough of London is Hammersmith and Fulham, with 185.8 cases per 100,000.

Across the UK, Blackburn with Darwen is in second place, with 706.1 cases, Wigan in third, with 673.3, Salford in fourth, with 623.6, and Rochdale in fifth, with 594.