London news: London could be coronavirus-free within two weeks | UK | News
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The new figures obtained by Public Health England and Cambridge University suggest the virus could potentially disappear within two weeks in the capital. The “R” infection rate has dropped to 0.4 in the capital and the number of infections halves every 3.5 days.
If the “R” continues to decrease, the virus will be virtually wiped out in the capital by the end of the month.
According to the analysis, on March 23, when lockdown was announced at the pinnacle of the outbreak, 213,000 people a day caught the virus in London.
By April 7 the number of infections had fallen below 10,000 and the death toll is halving roughly every week.
The data suggests that London, once the hardest-hit region in the UK, is now ahead in terms of recovery.
The North East has 4,000 daily confirmed cases and an “R” rate twice that of London.
This UK city could be coronavirus-free within two weeks (Image: Getty)
On Thursday night MPs said the figures shows lockdown could be lifted region by region.
Conservative MP Bim Afolami, said: “If you look at other countries, they’ve often adopted regional approaches. If it makes sense from a health perspective, we need to consider it.
“Within England, we should consider regional approaches too.”
Theresa Villiers, a former Cabinet minister, said: “These figures are good news. They show lockdown measures have been working and I think they make the case for further easing of the lockdown in London.
“It’s vital that we do find ways to let the economy recover – and London is the powerhouse of the economy.”
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Former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers (Image: Getty)
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is believed to be exploring regional lockdowns if the local “R” rate rises above one.
However, Steve Brine, the former health minister, claimed that social distancing measures should be eased for all regions simultaneously.
“The country should move together,” he said. “This shows the restrictions have had the desired effect – London is ahead of the rest of the country, so this is an encouraging sign.”
The data also suggests that by time the country shut down the “R” rate was already dropping in London, possibly assisted by social distancing and home working, which had been in place at least a week earlier.
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The vital importance of social distancing (Image: Express)
But the number of cases was still high in the areas when the country was in lockdown. While the “R” rate was 2.3 in the capital on March 23, it was 3.41 in the North East and Yorkshire.
The report, published this week by the Medical Research Councils Biostatistics Unit at Cambridge University, rather than by the Government, has left some MPs questioning whether all the figures are being ran past them.
Steve Baker, the Tory MP who sits on the Commons Treasury select committee, said: “This means the Government really must publish fully and frankly the underlying advice and data, so we can have a full public consultation. All this black box policy making isn’t working for the country.
“It’s not fair on the nation to see leaks of models, which create the impression the Government isn’t going far enough, fast enough when the public’s jobs are at stake.
“Far better to get all the data, modelling and advice out in the public domain at the first opportunity.”
The data suggests that London, once the hardest-hit region in the UK, is now ahead in terms of recovery (Image: Getty)
Separate data from a researchers at the University of Manchester shows 17.3 million in Britain may have already caught the virus, positioning the country closer to achieving herd immunity.
Dr Adrian Heald, of Manchester university, said: “This gives us all a glimmer of hope that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. The more people exposed to this or any virus, the less easy it is for further transmission.”
The Manchester team said that the regional differences in the figures should allow the Government to implement localised lockdown measures.
Dr Heald added: “This will allow policymakers to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ approach to pandemic policy, which does not consider the variation in both infection rates and impact across localities.”
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