London coronavirus cases fall in 18 boroughs amid plea for capital to avoid Tier 3

The Covid-19 rate is falling in London with 18 boroughs seeing a decline in cases, official figures reveal today.

Infection rates are also heading towards Tier 1-type levels in a swathe of central London which is so economically crucial for Britain.

The second wave epidemic appears increasingly likely to have peaked in the capital around 11 days ago, the case data suggests.

The figures will pile pressure on Boris Johnson not to put London in Tier 3 restrictions from December 2.

Ministers are due to announce tomorrow which areas of the country are going into the different tiers.

However, many London MPs are warning against inflicting Tier 3 on the capital given the huge damage it will do to businesses.

Latest figures showed the seven-day rate of new cases per 100,000 in the capital falling to 187.4 on November 19, the fifth day of decline since a possible peak in the second wave on November 14 of 199.4.

In Westminster, cases are down 19 per cent on the previous week to a rate of 127; in Southwark ten per cent to a rate of 109.8; Camden 23.2 per cent to 104.1, and Kensington & Chelsea, 11.7 per cent to 130.7. A rate of 100 was one of the trigger thresholds for moving areas from Tier 1 to Tier 2.

However, ministers have so far rejected calls for borough-by-borough tier levels which MPs are advocating given the huge variations across the capital..

Latest figures showed in Wandsworth a total of 445 new cases in the week to November 19, down 159 (26.3 per cent) on the previous week, and a seven-day rate per 100,000 of 135; in Camden 281 cases, down 85 (23.2 per cent) with a rate of 104.1; Islington 337, down 88 (-20.7 per cent) with a rate of 139; Westminster 332, down 78 (19 per cent) with a rate of 127; Richmond 220, down 40 (15.4 per cent) with a rate of 111.1; Waltham Forest 537 down 97 (15.3 per cent) with a rate of 193.9; Sutton 320, down 48 (13 per cent) with a rate of 155.1; Barnet 665, down 92 (12.2 per cent) with a rate of 168, and Lambeth 464, down 67 (12.6 per cent) with a rate of 142.3.

Kensington & Chelsea saw 204 cases, down 27 (11.7 per cent) with a rate of 130.7; Kingston 298, down 37 (11 per cent) with a rate of 167.9; Southwark 350, down 39 (10 per cent) with a rate of 109.8; Ealing 772, down 85 (9.9 per cent) with a rate of 225.9; Hillingdon 640, down 69 (9.7 per cent) with a rate of 208.6; Tower Hamlets 785, down 61 (7.2 per cent) with a rate of 241.7; Hammersmith and Fulham 339, down 24 (6.6 per cent), with a rate of 183.1; Bexley 637, down 39 (5.8 per cent) with a rate of 256.6, and Haringey 377, down 18 (4.6 per cent) with a rate of 140.3.

Brent has seen no change on 688 cases and a rate of 208.6.

But 13 boroughs are still seeing rises, though many smaller than previously.

The Government may be tempted to seek to drive case numbers down hard at the start of December in anticipation of a rise at Christmas where three households will be allowed to meet for up to five days, a controversial decision if it means extended periods of tighter restrictions.

However, health chiefs also believe the measures in Tier 2, introduced in the capital in mid-October, had flatten the rise in cases and they may have been falling.

The new Tier 2 restrictions are tighter than the previous ones.

The boroughs seeing cases rise in the week to November 19, compared to the previous seven days, were Merton which had 403 cases, up 86 (27.1 per cent) and a rate of 195.1; Havering 1006, up 173 (20.8 per cent) and a rate of 387.6; Greenwich 570, up 94 (19.7 per cent) and a rate of 198; Bromley 547, up 77 (16.4 per cent) and a rate of 164.6; Redbridge 924, up 123 (15.4 per cent) and a rate of 302.7, and Enfield 739, up 95 (14.8 per cent) and a rate of 221.4.

Newham saw 804 cases, up 95 (13.4 per cent) and a rate of 227.7; Croydon 644, up 70 (12.2 per cent) and a rate of 166.5; Hounslow 566, up 44 (8.4 per cent) and a rate of 208.5; Hackney and City of London 500, up 30 (6.4 per cent) and a rate of 171.9; Barking and Dagenham 556, up 31 (5.9 per cent) and a rate of 261.1; Lewisham 378, up 15 (4.1 per cent) and a rate of 123.6, and Harrow 471, up two (0.4 per cent) and a rate of 187.5.

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