[ad_1]
Londoners were again warned that they could soon face stricter restrictions if they do not follow current coronavirus rules amid a surge in cases.
A spokesman for the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the winter could see a “devastating” increase in COVID-19 infections if people do not obey current Tier 2 rules, with new data showing that cases increased in 75% of the capital’s districts.
“The number one way to care for our loved ones and support local businesses this holiday season is to follow the rules and do everything possible to avoid re-enforcing stricter restrictions later this month or anytime in the future. “. the spokesman said.
Sadiq Khan urges people to follow the rules to prevent London from moving to Level 3
“If we start to act like this virus is gone, we could see a devastating increase in cases at a time of year when our NHS is already under enough pressure.”
Live updates on coronavirus from the UK and around the world
On Twitter, Khan warned: “This is important. We still have a long winter ahead of us. None of us want London to move to Level 3.”
“Please continue to play by the rules – lives and livelihoods really depend on it.”
The tier system will be revised on December 16.
Figures from Public Health England showed that new COVID-19 cases rose in 24 of London’s 32 boroughs in the week ending December 3.
East London’s Havering had the highest rate, with 898 new cases, or 346 per 100,000 people.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘Viruses on the rise in London, we can’t relax’
That’s an increase of 268.5 per 100,000 people in the week to November 26.
Richmond, in the Southwest, had the lowest rate, falling from 86.9 cases per 100,000 residents to 80.3.
The growth rate in London contrasts with a drop in cases in 188 of the 315 local areas in England during the same period.
Speaking in the Commons, UK Senior Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that “the biggest risk we face now is that people will think it’s all over.”
Subscribe to the daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
He said: “We have a very important light at the end of the tunnel, but we are very far away. This is not the time to relax things. If that happens, we will have a big surge.”
However, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky News that London’s boroughs could possibly remain at their current levels or even drop by one for Christmas, but only if people remain vigilant.
“There are variations in the boroughs of London,” he said.
“But we get advice from the Joint Center for Biosafety and from those who are monitoring not only the incidence of the virus, but also the pressure on the NHS, and we keep these things under review.”
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said that triage decisions are based on many factors, including how quickly case rates change, the number of infections in those over 60, the pressure on the NHS and the “local circumstances”.
“The government will review the level assignments every 14 days and the areas will raise or lower levels based on these local area indicators,” they said.
