Covid-19 Infection Rate Falls in Chiswick |
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Caution still needed as local hospitals say virus admissions continue to rise
The latest official figures show a slight fall in the number of Covid-19 infections in the Chiswick area. There were 266 new cases in the week to 28 December, a 3% fall from the previous week. This represents a sharp deceleration in the increase in positive tests compared with the previous two weeks when the more virulent strain of the virus came to the local area. The worst affected areas of Chiswick last week including Bedford Park have all seen double digit falls. Now the highest rate of positive tests is in the Chiswick South East area with 59 new reports giving a weekly infection rate per 100,000 of 658.2. On the other hand the borough of Hounslow has seen a significant increase in infections during the same period with an infection rate of 843 per 100,000 in the week to 27 December which brings it to around the London average of 859. The borough of Ealing’s rate is 730 per 100,000. For England as a whole the rate is 427.
Source: ONS
New Year’s Day, the daily number of new people tested positive for Covid-19 in London was reported as 15,089. The total number cases identified in London is 385,037 as at the end of last year. This compares to a figure of 2,190,702 cases for England as a whole. At this point there should be some benefit from the lockdown restrictions imposed at the beginning of December but, given the incubation period of the virus, it is too early for the impact of extra social mixing over Christmas to be seen in the numbers. There will also be a lag in hospitalisations from the initial surge of infections that occurred in December and local hospital trusts are very concerned that this will coincide with a seasonal peak in demand in January. Unlike in other parts of the capital, non-urgent planned care and surgeries have not been completely suspended. The local healthcare trust says that its hospitals including Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospital are currently ‘very busy’ with admission rates still rising due to Covid-19. The Trust has made a decision to reduce levels of non-urgent, planned care from 4 January. This will allow it to continue to provide all urgent and emergency care, including cancer care. Patients who are affected by this decision will be contacted via their mobile phone . If you do not hear from the hospital you should attend your appointment as planned. Tier four restriction are similar to those imposed during the first national lockdown with people being told to stay at home - although travel for education or work is still permitted. Social mixing will be restricted to meeting one other person from outside your household in an open public space. All non-essential retail will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars and indoor entertainment venues. Support bubbles remain unaffected, as do the exemptions for separated parents and their children.
January 3, 2021 |