Chiswick Sees Highest Ever Level of Covid-19 Infections

Indications grow that local hospitals are struggling to cope

24 hour pop-up vaccination centres are being set up in parts of London

The infection rate in the Chiswick area is currently at its highest level since the pandemic began in March 2020.

In the week to 13 December 455 people in the W4 postcode area alone reported a positive test. In some neighbourhoods the proportion of people recorded as being infected within the latest seven day period is above one per cent of the population.

The virus is most prevalent in the Chiswick South West area which includes Strand on the Green and parts of Grove Park. There the infection rate per 100,000 population is 1,170.5 in the most recent week for which data is available and increase of 90.2% on the previous week.

The Chiswick North West area, which covers much of Acton Green also has an infection rate above 1,000 and saw cases increase by 70.7%.

All parts of Chiswick have case rates above the borough and national average. Both Hounslow and Ealing boroughs overall have infection rates below the London averages.

At the moment, the infections are still a mix of the Delta and the more transmissible Omicron strain, but this week 73% of positive tests in London showed markers for Omicron. The rises are most concentrated in younger age groups, but infections are increasing across the board.

A local GP told us, "These are the highest levels of infections we have seen so far. The point I'd like to stress is that there are lots of reports suggesting that Omicron is a milder form of the virus. This has not been proved definitively by research and it is possible that its apparent mildness is just a function of it being prevalent at a time when a larger proportion of the population have been vaccinated which reduces the severity of any symptoms.

"I know this is a busy time of year and people generally have to travel out of Chiswick to get their jabs, but, if you haven't had all the vaccinations available to you this is not the time to be complacent. The booster clearly provides a significant extra level of protection for those who were double-jabbed some time ago."

You can manage your Covid-19 vaccinations online but the site is currently seeing high levels of demand and a queueing system is operating.

There are a number of drop-in vaccination sites in the borough of Hounslow including one at the West Middlesex Hospital which is open until 3.30pm this Sunday (19 December).

Elsewhere mass vaccination exercises have been taking place in football grounds such as Wembley Stadium and Stamford Bridge and 24 hour drop in centres have been opened by some boroughs.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London director of public health, said: “We are seeing extraordinary numbers of Covid cases in London. This sheer volume means that even if Omicron is found to have reduced severity, it will still have a big impact on hospitalisations and deaths.”

Daily Hospital admissions in London rose to 199 on 14 December. Currently there are 1,460 Covid patients being in treated in total, up from 994 on 28 November.

Charing Cross Hospital has issued two black alerts in the last fortnight, its highest alert level, which indicates it is experiencing significant capacity pressures and has triggered actions to urgently create more capacity.

On 16 December the daily number of new people tested positive for COVID-19 in London was reported as 23,272.

The total number of COVID-19 cases identified in London is 1,448,478 as at 15 December, this compares to 9,420,017 cases for England as a whole.

In the week to 11 December, 59,379 cases were identified in London, a rate of 660 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 41,821 cases and a rate of 464 for the previous week.

During the same period 305,434 cases were identified in England as a whole, a rate of 540 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 284,534 cases and a rate of 503 for the previous week.

Up to and including 15 December 6,228,352 people in London had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 5,644,419 had received two doses.

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 19, 2021