LONDON CASES FALL AGAIN AHEAD OF REST OF BRITAIN

COVID-19 cases have fallen so quickly in parts of London that one borough now has a seven-day rate below 40, official figures reveal today.

Cases are continuing to fall fastest in the capital, compared to other regions. But the decline in the disease is slowing, with the prospect that cases might start to plateau and then creep up.

Islington had the lowest seven-day rate of 38.8 new infections per

100,000 people in the week to February 18, after a fall in cases of 56.5 per cent in a week. Tower Hamlets had a rate of 50.2, Camden 53.3, Westminster 54.3, Lewisham 56.9 and Bromley 57.5.

London’s seven-day rate was down 32.1 per cent in the week to February 18 to

86.8 new confirmed infections per 100,000, though the real number of cases is higher, partly due to so many people have the disease asymptomatically.

Official figures show:

⬤ A further 923 cases announced for the capital yesterday.

⬤ 23 boroughs now have a seven-day rate below 100, with nine above this level which public health chiefs want areas across the city to get below before lockdown is eased.

⬤ Hounslow has the highest rate at 153.6.

⬤ There were 2,737 coronavirus patients in London’s hospitals as of Monday.