T
he Omicron explosion in London was laid bare on Wednesday with Covid cases sky-rocketing by more than 200 per cent in a week in eight boroughs, official figures reveal.
They spiralled so fast that all 12 worst hit areas in Britain are in the capital, mainly in inner London.
The data showed:
* Confirmed infections jumped by a startling 261 per cent in Lambeth to 8,873 in the week to December 17, compared to the previous week, with a seven-day rate of 2,757 cases per 100,000 people.
* The hike in Wandsworth was 253 per cent to 8,768 cases, with a rate of 2,659.
READ MORE
* Cases went up 250 per cent in Hackney and City of London to 6,919 cases, with a seven-day rate of 2,371.
* In Islington, infections rose 233 per cent, Tower Hamlets 230 per cent, Camden 209 per cent, Westminster 202 per cent and Southwark 201 per cent.
* In Haringey, they increased 199 per cent, and Hammersmith and Fulham 193 per cent.
* Rises were significantly slower in many outer London boroughs, though still doubled in a further 19 areas ranging from Havering to Harrow, Croydon, Barnet and Kingston.
However, there are signs that the exponential growth in the disease may be slowing in recent days, though, it is still early to say that definitely.
Latest figures, showed there were 27,799 cases announced on Wednesday – above the previous high of 26,608 last Friday.
Health chiefs believe while cases are still rising, the increase may possibly be slowing, having been between 5,600 and 6,900 daily cases at the start of the month.
Hospital admissions of patients with coronavirus in London are now rising more sharply and are up to 301 on December 20, compared to 114 on December 1.
The number of Covid patients in the city’s hospitals was 2,036 on December 22, up from 1,074 on December 1, with 198 so ill that they are on ventilators, a figure which has remained around this level since December 11.
Health chiefs and ministers are pleading with more people to get their booster, as it is thought to give good protection against symptomatic infection from Omicron, and also against hospitalisation and severe disease.
The number of first dose Covid jabs administered in London has risen to 6,268,440, according to the latest figures, second dose innoculations 5,681,532, and 3,177,079 boosters or third doses for individuals vulnerable to the virus.
People wearing face masks enjoy a shower of artificial snow in Covent Garden, London
/ PA Wire
The detailed figures show that:
* In Lambeth, there were 8873 confirmed cases in the week to December 17, up 6,418 (261.4%) compared to the previous week, with a seven-day rate of 2,757.2 infections per 100,000 people.
* Wandsworth saw 8768 cases, up 6,286 (253.3%), rate 2,659.1
* Hackney and City of London 6919 cases, up 4,940 (249.6%), rate 2,370.5
* Islington 5395 cases, up 3,776 (233.2%) rate 2,174.4
* Tower Hamlets 6243 cases, up 4,351 (230%) rate 1,880.6
* Camden 4536 cases, up 3,069 (209.2%) rate 1,622.8
* Westminster 4125 cases, up 2,759 (202%) rate 1,528.6
* Southwark 7242 cases, up 4,839 (201.4%) rate 2,263
* Haringey 4680 cases, up 3,114 (198.9%) rate 1,757
* Hammersmith and Fulham 4044 cases, up 2,665 (193.3%) rate 2,203.3
* Kensington and Chelsea 2439 cases, up 1,563 (178.4%) rate 1,554.9
* Lewisham 5928 cases, up 3,741 (171.1%) rate 1,941.6
* Merton 3657 cases, up 2,268 (163.3%), rate 1,771.3
* Waltham Forest 4376 cases, up 2,623 (149.6%) rate 1,580.1
* Newham 4488 cases, up 2,622 (140.5%) rate 1,263.3
* Brent 3964 cases, up 2,302 (138.5%) rate 1,209.4
* Greenwich 4808 cases, up 2,767 (135.6%) rate 1,663.5
* Havering 3760 cases, up 2,132 (131%) rate 1,442.5
* Bromley 5173 cases, up 2,916 (129.2%) rate 1,554.6
* Ealing 4352, cases, up 2,429 (126.3%) rate 1,278.7
* Bexley 3549 cases, up 1,970 (124.8%) rate 1,423.6
* Croydon 5613 cases, up 3,102 (123.5%) rate 1,444.6
* Enfield 3987 cases, up 2,194 (122.4%) rate 1,195.2
* Barking and Dagenham 2850 cases, up 1,562 (121.3%) rate 1,331.1
* Richmond 3146 cases, up 1,702 (117.9%) rate 1,587.8
* Redbridge 3546 cases, up 1,855 (109.7%) rate 1,160.1
* Kingston 2633 cases, up 1,377 (109.6%) rate 1,469.8
* Barnet 4507 cases, up 2,342 (108.2%) rate 1,129.6
* Harrow 2557 cases, up 1,325 (107.5%) rate 1,013.3
* Hillingdon 2888 cases, up 1,400 (94.1%) rate 934.6
* Hounslow 2869 cases, up 1,368 (91.1%) rate 1,055.7
* Sutton 2973 cases, up 1,417 (91.1%) rate 1,431.3
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-omicron-covid-variant-borough-b973445.html
