The number of Covid-19 cases has fallen by nearly half in central Richmond in an indication that residents' efforts to limit the spread are paying off.

In Richmond Central, 17 residents tested positive for the coronavirus in the seven days to January 8 – down from 32 the week before.

There was an even bigger reduction in the nearby Queen's Road area, where cases fell from 51 to 23.

Across the borough, 19 of 24 neighbourhoods have recorded decreases in covid cases, with the virus only on the rise in in five areas: Heathfield, Whitton, North Barnes, Nursery Lands and Hampton North and Richmond Park, Sheen Gate and Petersham.

It means Richmond upon Thames has an average infect rate of 542 new cases per 100,000 people, the lowest in London.

It should be said, however, that this is still one of the highest infection rates we've had throughout the pandemic.

Yesterday, 1,564 people across the UK died within 28 days of a positive covid test - the highest single day figure since the start of the pandemic.

Hospitals are incredibly busy and residents are urged to keep complying with social distancing and covid guidance as the vaccination programme continues.

Coronavirus in Richmond

The government plots coronavirus figures on an interactive heat map. The darker the colour, the higher the local infection rate.

These are the latest rates and number of new cases in each neighbourhood in Richmond over the seven days up to January 8.

Heathfield – infection rate of 917 new cases per 100,000 people in the population (99 cases recorded in past seven days)

Whitton – 899 cases per 100,000 people (75 cases)

Nursery Lands and Hampton North – 792 cases per 100,000 people (75 cases)

Ham – 692 cases per 100,000 people (38 cases)

Richmond Park, Sheen Gate and Petersham – 640 cases per 100,000 people (46 cases)

North Barnes – 612 cases per 100,000 people (62 cases)

Twickenham North – 595 cases per 100,000 people (42 cases)

Hampton Hill – 562 cases per 100,000 people (39 cases)

Teddington North – 553 cases per 100,000 people (40 cases)

Twickenham Marble Hill – 544 cases per 100,000 people (40 cases)

East Sheen North – 538 cases per 100,000 people (49 cases)

Mortlake and South Barnes – 534 cases per 100,000 people (62 cases)

Twickenham Town – 500 cases per 100,000 people (40 cases)

Strawberry Hill – 497 cases per 100,000 people (31 cases)

Teddington Central – 490 cases per 100,000 people (36 cases)

Hampton Village – 465 cases per 100,000 people (48 cases)

North Sheen – 465 cases per 100,000 people (57 cases)

Hampton Wick and Teddington East – 463 cases per 100,000 people (53 cases)

Tudor Drive – 422 cases per 100,000 people (35 cases)

St Margarets – 419 cases per 100,000 people (28 cases)

Twickenham West – 369 cases per 100,000 people (41 cases)

Queen's Road – 347 cases per 100,000 people (23 cases)

Kew Gardens – 327 cases per 100,000 people (33 cases)

Richmond Central – 231 cases per 100,000 people (17 cases)