Following London moving into Tier 3, 4 and then the national lockdown, boroughs have reported for the first time this year that infection rates have started to fall.
Among the biggest drop in numbers was in Richmond, reporting a 20% drop, showing encouraging signs that there was an improving situation. 13 other boroughs including Sutton, Havering, Kingston and Merton, also saw declines between 11-13% in cases.
Progress was a little slower in the south west, however the trendline is that infections have peaked, and London is starting to see falling numbers thanks to the strict measures implemented.
Following the government’s announcement of a national lockdown, cases have been rising exponentially due to a new coronavirus variant, however it is anticipated that hospital admissions should peak at the end of the month or the first week of February before declining more rapidly.
Close contact at Christmas and New Year has been estimated to have been one of the key drivers in rising cases, which was difficult to avoid.
As of this week there are more than 7000 coronavirus patients in hospitals across London with over 1000 in serious condition on ventilators.