Chiswick Covid-19 Infection Rate Well Above London Average

Further rises expected in run up to Christmas due to Omicron

Progress on booster roll out seen as critical in combatting Omicron strain

There have been sharp rises in Covid-19 cases in the Chiswick area and the area now has an infection rate well above the London average.

The W4 postcode area has a prevalence of the virus comparable to the worst hit boroughs in the capital at the moment although Hounslow and Ealing boroughs overall do not have particularly high rates.

The highest number of cases has been seen in the Chiswick South East area with 63 positive tests in the week to 6 December to give an infection rate of 711.5 per 100,000 population equivalent. The rate in the Chiswick Park area was 651.1 and in Chiswick North East it was 644.2. These three areas saw an increase in cases of over 40% during the week. Only Bedford Park saw a fall in the number of infections but its overall rate remains high at 593.7.

No local data is available by age group but across London the highest case rates are in the 0-14 age group. Rates among people aged 60 or above remain relatively low.

Concerns are being raised that the rises seen so far in December are just the beginning and rates will increase at a similar pace up to Christmas. As yet rises in hospitalisations due to the disease have been minimal.

A local GP said, "The data we have is slightly out of date and the situation is changing quickly. Rises seen in the numbers we have are probably not primarily due to Omicron so it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to see infections at the same sort of level seen at the peak last year.

"The big difference now is that vaccination has meant that fewer people are getting seriously ill with Covid-19 but that does not mean that even the double jabbed cannot end up in hospital. Local hospitals always struggle at this time of year and everything that can be done to reduce further admissions, should be done.

"The early data suggests that people double vaccinated some time ago are vulnerable to Omicron but the risk reduces massively once they get their booster. The biggest problem in my experience at the moment is not vaccine hesitancy but vaccine complacency with people thinking the booster is a 'nice to have' option rather than something that is equally important to the first two jabs."

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

The latest data shows that Sutton is the London borough with the highest infection rate at 708 followed by Richmond upon Thames at 681. Hounslow borough is below the London average at 444 with Ealing on 449.

On 9 December the number of new people tested positive for COVID-19 in London was reported as 7,761.

The total number of COVID-19 cases identified in London is 1,352,805 this compares to 9,043,108 cases for England as a whole

In the most recent week of complete data, (28 November 2021 - 4 December 2021) 41,629 cases were identified in London, a rate of 462 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 33,221 cases and a rate of 369 for the previous week.

For the same period 283,586 cases were identified in England as a whole, a rate of 502 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 248,733 cases and a rate of 440 for the previous week.

Up to and including 8 December 2021 6,198,667 people in London had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 5,611,212 had received two doses.

December 12, 2021