Bedford Park Centre of Renewed Covid-19 Surge

Large proportion of new infections believed to be among children

Sadiq Khan receiving his flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster

The latest figures show there has been a resurgence of Covid-19 infections in parts of Chiswick. Some areas of the W4 postcode area have seen case numbers well in excess of the London and national averages particularly in Bedford Park which saw 41 new cases to give an infection rate of 593.7 per 1000,000 and increase of 51.9% on the previous week.

The adjacent area of which is defined as Chiswick North East by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) had an infection rate of 512.9 an increase of 43.3%

A local GP told us, “The government’s policy seems to be to give younger children immunity by letting them catch the virus and they could argue it is working at the moment as hospitalisations have not risen with the number of cases. However, they have had an advantage with an unseasonably mild October. If that changes soon so might the picture on hospital admissions as people spend longer together in unventilated spaces.

“My very strong advice to people at the moment is that if you have regular contact with school age children you should get your booster as soon as possible as well as your flu jab. If you are not already double vaccinated you are exposed to a very considerable risk of catching a severe form of the disease. Thankfully in my experience very few people with children tend to be vaccine hesitant.”

Parts of Chiswick have seen falls in infections this week particular in Chiswick South East which covers most of Grove Park where there were only 12 cases.

Map showing the Middle Super Output Areas from the table above. Source: ONS

Hounslow Borough currently has the fourth highest infection rate currently with 442 per 100,000 testing positive this week compared to 560 in Sutton which tops the table. Ealing currently ranks eight with a rate of 338 still well above the London average.

Darker areas have higher rates of infection. Picture: ONS

Health experts have warned that with no lockdown restrictions in place, this winter will see the NHS contending with the “double threat” of Covid-19 and flu infections.

Analysis from Public Health England has found emerging evidence that people infected with both Covid and flu simultaneously are more than twice as likely to die than someone infected with Covid alone.

Ahead of receiving his booster jabs this week, Sadiq Khan warned Londoners “not to underestimate the risk these viruses pose to all of us” and encouraged everyone to come forward for a flu vaccine and the Covid booster jab when eligible.

He said, “I want to be very clear to all Londoners. This deadly virus has not gone away and this winter we’re facing both flu and Covid. The worst thing we can do is to lower our guard, be complacent and underestimate the risk these viruses pose to all of us.

“The situation with Covid-19 in the capital is so finely balanced that it needs all of us to act together to protect ourselves, our loved ones, the things we enjoy and our NHS this winter.”

Flu vaccines are available for free for over 50s, anyone with a long-term health condition such as asthma, healthcare workers and anyone who is pregnant, while Covid booster jabs are available on the NHS for those most at risk of infection who had their second shot at least six months ago.

But the Mayor of London has also called on the Government to act fast and introduce “simple and effective steps” to contain infections now, such as making face coverings mandatory on public transport once again.

ONS figures show that children under 14 now have the largest number of any age group catching the virus. Hospitalisations have picked up but the majority of people being admitted in London hospitals are over 65. Although people being admitted for Covid has risen recently the numbers are no higher than they were at the beginning of October.

On 28 October the daily number of new people tested positive for Covid-19 in London was reported as 3,473.

The total number of Covid-19 cases identified in London is 1,168,799 , this compares to 7,597,473 cases for England as a whole.

In the most recent week of complete data, (17 October - 23 October), 26,465 cases were identified in London, a rate of 294 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 22,801 cases and a rate of 253 for the previous week.

During the same week, 271,749 cases were identified in England as a whole, a rate of 480 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 258,122 cases and a rate of 456 for the previous week.

Up to and including 27 October 2021 6,039,071 people in London had received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 5,450,798 had received two doses.

Written with contributions from Joe Talora – Local Democracy Reporter

October 31, 2021