Public Health England data shows big increase in Richmond infection rate

By The Editor

3rd Oct 2020 | Local News

Richmond and nearby South West London boroughs has seen a big rise in the weekly rate of coronavirus cases.

Data from Public Health England for the week September 21 to September 27 has been released.

It saw Richmond record 28.4 covid cases per 100,000 this week, compared to 11.2 last week.

Wandsworth saw 29.1 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 15.9 last week.

Kingston also saw a big increase to, 26.2 cases per 100,000 from 13.7 last week.

Last Friday, all London boroughs were placed on the government's national watchlist, but no further restrictions have yet been implemented.

Number of cases in Richmond

Richmond Council leader Gareth Roberts said the borough needed to treat this as "a wake-up call" as Richmond's infection rate, which has previously been very low, moved in line with the London average.

Cllr Roberts said 2,089 people have been tested in the borough over the last seven days and there was a positive return rate of 2.5 per cent.

This is more than double that seen over the previous seven days.

He said: "If we do not follow the rules we could find ourselves under further restrictions and possibly a full lockdown like we saw earlier in the year.

"We need to treat this warning that these figures have given us seriously."

Advice from London's health chief

Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director for Public Health England, said the capital is now at the "tipping point" in efforts to limit the spread of the virus.

He said: "Londoners still hold the key to reducing infection rates and lessening the impact of any second wave by making a continued conscious effort to consider our movements and behaviour.

"Small actions can have a big impact on these trends, and by sticking to social distancing, practising good hand hygiene and following guidelines around the rule of six and face coverings, we can all play our part. Londoners have done it before and now is the time to do it again.

"Finally, be aware of your health – if you have any coronavirus symptoms, self-isolate immediately and book a test as soon as possible. Every individual can make a difference."