Matt Hancock Urges Londoners To ‘Play By The Rules’ As Covid Cases Rise

Att Hancock today issued an urgent appeal to Londoners to ‘play by the rules’ after shocking figures showed Covid-19 cases spike in 21 boroughs, increasing the Level 3 risk for the city ahead of Christmas.

The Secretary of Health also stressed that more people in the capital will end up hospitalized and die from the spread of the disease.

He came out after alarming data showed confirmed cases rose by 46.7 in Haringey in the week ending Dec. 2, and many boroughs in East London were also hit particularly hard.

When asked on LBC Radio if London was close to entering Level 3, Hancock emphasized: “My message to everyone in London is ‘play by the rules’ and don’t push the boundaries of the rules, but try to limit the spread this infection because the number of cases is increasing in parts of London, in parts of Essex, in parts of Kent, and we know what happens when the number of cases goes up, sadly more people end up in hospital and more people end up dying.

“So we have to stand our ground and we have to keep this virus in check as we begin the rollout (of the vaccine).

“So my message to everyone in London is ‘please respect the restrictions, respect what needs to be done, keep yourself, your family, your community and your city safe.’

Earlier, London Minister Paul Scully told The Standard: “The review of the levels will be in a few days, so it is too early to know what is happening,” he told The Standard.

“We clearly want to at least stay at Level 2.

“The only way we’ll do it is if we take care of each other by adhering to ‘Hands, Face, Space.’

“That way we can save lives and protect our economy.”

Cases are understood to be increasing more sharply in those under 18, with several school outbreaks, and also in those over 60, than in other age groups.

The increase in the older age group is concerning, as these people are more likely to suffer serious illnesses, be hospitalized and die from the infection.

The case figures now include the rapid lateral flow tests, however this is not said to have a major impact on the numbers even though they are being tested in many districts of the capital, and the increases are attributed to transmission. community.

Haringey saw 465 cases in the seven days to Dec. 2, 148 more than the previous week (46.7 percent), with a rate of 173.1 new cases per 100,000 residents.

In Bromley there were 568 cases, 163 (40.2%) with a rate of 170.9, in Kingston 365 cases, 91 (33.2%) with a rate of 205.6, Hackney and City of London 481 cases, 119 (32.9%) plus percent) with a rate of 165.4, Merton 381 cases, up to 87 (29.6 percent) with a rate of 184.5, Harrow 443 cases, up 93 (26.6 percent). percent) with a rate of 176.4, Bexley 620 cases, up to 123 (24.7%) with a rate of 249.7, Wandsworth 393 cases, up to 75 (23.6%) with a rate of 119.2, Sutton 319 cases, up to 59 (22.7%) with a rate of 154.6, Waltham Forest 698 cases, up to 110 (18.7%) with a rate of 252, Barking and Dagenham 636 cases, up to 94 (17, 3%) with a rate of 298.7, Lewisham 346 cases, up to 46 (15.3%) with a rate of 113.1.

Islington saw 289 cases, up 36 (14.2 percent) with a rate of 119.2, Havering 829 cases, up 87 (11.7 percent) with a rate of 319.4, Newham 857 cases, up 89 ( 11.6 percent) with a rate of 242.7, Enfield 645 cases, up to 61 (10.4%) with a rate of 193.2, Barnet 648 cases, up to 57 (9.6%) with a rate of 163.7, Croydon 562 cases, up to 33 (6.2%) with a rate of 145.3, Lambeth 375 cases, up to ten (2.7 percent) with a rate of 115, Southwark 340 cases, up to five ( 1.5 percent) with a rate of 106.6 and Tower Hamlets 672 cases, up to three (0.4 percent) with a rate of 206.9.

In Hammersmith & Fulham there were 182 cases, 42 (18.8%) less with a rate of 98.3, 473 Brent cases, 101 (17.6%) with a rate of 143.4, 547 Ealing cases, 108 (16.5%) with a rate of 160, Kensington and Chelsea 161 cases, 19 (10.6%) with a rate of 103.1, Hounslow 418 cases, 48 ​​(10.3%) with a rate of 153.9, Richmond 157 cases, 16 (9.2%) down percent) with a rate of 79.3, Westminster 241 cases, 11 (4.4 percent) down with a rate of 92.2, Camden 237 cases, five (2.1 percent) percent) with a rate of 87.8, Greenwich 446 cases, six (1.3%) with a rate of 154.9, Hillingdon 507 cases, six (1.2%) with a rate of 165.2, and Redbridge 899 cases , four (0.4%) with a rate of 294.5.

Ministers will begin scrutinizing the Covid figures in great detail in about a week, with changes to tier assignments taking place on December 16.

Professor Kevin Fenton, England’s director of Public Health in London, expressed concern last Friday about the apparent change in the course of the disease, as the contraction of cases in many parts of the capital began to falter, according to official figures.

The seven-day rate for London hit 200 per 100,000 on November 15 before falling to 154.2 on December 27, but returned to 169.6 on December 2.

In the week ending November 24, cases declined in 30 out of 32 London borough areas.