Covid London restrictions are ‘increasingly likely’

Measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in London are becoming “increasingly likely,” its mayor said.

Sadiq Khan made the announcement after holding an emergency meeting with the leaders of the London council, the government and Public Health England.

He said he was extremely concerned by the evidence of the accelerating speed with which the coronavirus was spreading in the city.

Khan said the situation was worsening due to uncertainty over a lack of testing capacity in the capital.

He said: “It is increasingly likely that, in London, additional measures will soon be required to slow the spread of the virus.

“We will look at some of the measures that have already been imposed in other parts of the UK.

“I am of the firm opinion that we should not wait, as it did six months ago, for this virus to spiral out of control again before taking action.”

The number of cases per 100,000 people over seven days is reported to have risen in London from 18.8 to about 25.

Londoners have been urged to be as cautious as possible over the weekend, following social distancing rules, washing their hands and covering their face.

Khan said: “The best for both public health and the economy are the new restrictions imposed early, rather than a complete lockdown when it is too late, but the government must urgently ensure that there is a fully functioning testing system.”