LONDON IS TEETERING ON THE EDGE OF TIER 3

TORIES BEG PM TO RESIST MOVING LONDON INTO TOUGHEST LEVEL AS EXPERTS WARN OVER SOARING RATE

CONSERVATIVE MPs in London have pleaded with Boris Johnson not to put the capital under the toughest Tier 3 virus rules, despite it having the highest infection rate in the country.

Some experts believe it is inevitable that London will be moved up from the less strict Tier 2 measures this week after scientists called on No.10 to take action ‘immediately’.

If imposed, the new grading would see all pubs and restaurants closed, except for takeaway and delivery services, while the public would also be banned from socialising outdoors at public venues and in private gardens.

There have been more than 20,000 confirmed cases in the capital in the most recent seven-day period, while the infection rate is 224.7 per 100,000 of the population. In the south-east, including Tier 3 Kent, the rate is 186.7.

Schools in Greenwich, south-east London, have been asked to close from this evening after ‘exponential growth’ of coronavirus demanded ‘immediate action’, the council said.

But in a letter seen by The Mail on Sunday, Tory MPs urged the prime minister to resist imposing additional restrictions, arguing they would damage the UK economy. Further measures would harm people ‘across the nation’ who depend on the ‘wealth and prosperity’ generated by London, they said.

Reports suggested health secretary Matt Hancock is considering dividing London into different tiers to protect businesses in the city, despite ministers previously ruling out such an idea.

Meanwhile, the lead researcher on the Oxford university vaccine programme warned the decision to relax household mixing rules over Christmas risks a third wave of the virus.

Prof Sarah Gilbert said the US saw a huge surge in infections after the Thanksgiving holiday – a scenario that if repeated here in January could delay a ‘return to normality’ in 2021.

Covid rates are rising in two-thirds of local authority areas (208 out of 315), Public Health England data shows. Every borough of London, 39 of the 45 areas in eastern England, and 58 of the 67 areas in south-east England recorded a week-on-week increase in the seven days to December 9.

The UK reported 18,447 new cases and 144 Covid deaths yesterday.