Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said the capital is at a “very serious tipping point” and tougher restrictions across the capital are “inevitable.”
Khan warned that coronavirus is “accelerating in every part of London,” and said that Londoners are “highly likely” to face stricter lockdown measures.
The Mayor said that the whole of London will have tougher measures imposed, and it will not be borough-by-borough as “it’s the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus.”
Khan said that there are as many as 45,000 new infections across England each day, the largest study on the prevalence of the coronavirus in the population.
Khan told LBC that tighter rules are “inevitable” alongside the expected announcement of a three-tiered postcode lockdown system next week, which could see pub, bars and restaurants close in London.
He told LBC Radio, “I’m increasingly alarmed that the spread of coronavirus in our city, and I’m warning fellow Londoners that further restrictions are highly likely.
“We are at a very serious tipping point. The virus is accelerating in every part of London.
“My prediction is there will be more restrictions being brought in because we don’t want to see in October and November what we saw in March and April.
“The spread of the virus is accelerating in every part of London and what I don’t want is people living in one borough being complacent…if it’s not as prevalent in their borough.”
Khan said he has been working with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on new stricter measures to implement across London.
He said, “You’ve got three buckets, level one the least restrictions, level one the most – similar to lockdown-type measures.
“What’s clear to me is that it’s inevitable there will be additional restrictions in London.
“What we are discussing as ‘One London’ is what we think the right level should be and work with government to make sure we have the right level there.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director for Public Health England, warned on Friday that there was “undeniable evidence” that the disease is spreading in the capital.
Professor Fenton emphasised, “Coronavirus cases in London are continuing to rise and we are seeing undeniable evidence of that trend.
“Unless this changes and we slow the spread we will have a much more serious situation on our hands in the coming weeks.”
Official figures released on Friday shows that Richmond upon Thames now has the highest infection rate in London.
In the week to 5 October Richmond recorded 112.1 new cases per 100,000 population, now cases have soared to 222 from 89 the previous week.
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