LONDON'S TURNING
London faces local lockdown with pubs shut and 10pm curfew in two weeks as Covid cases surge
LONDON is facing a local lockdown with pubs shutting and a 10pm curfew within two weeks as coronavirus cases surge.
The number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 over seven days has skyrocketed from 18.8 to about 25, it has been reported.
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Plans have reportedly been drafted to co-ordinate the capital's response in the event "trigger points" - which is the case rate per 100,000 - keeps passing specific thresholds.
This includes shutting pubs and implementing a 10pm curfew.
The official plans have been seen by the and are called the “London Epidemic Response Escalation Framework” and it includes specific measures each time a “trigger point” is crossed.
Health chiefs are expected to hold a city-wide reassessment of how the killer bug is spreading as new data published later today will reportedly show the first trigger point will be met.
Infections are believed to be at the level where tough restrictions - including shutting pubs linked to outbreaks and a 10pm curfew is imposed - in at least a dozen London boroughs already.
It comes scientists advising the Government want a two-week national lockdown next month to battle the surge in coronavirus.
Downing Street is keen to "circuit break" the surge in cases, reports.
Experts have now suggested an October lockdown during half term before the virus "breaks the NHS".
It comes as…
- Mr Hancock said the number of people going into hospital with the virus is doubling every eight days
- Hundreds of drinkers hit the town for a last boozy night out before a North East lockdown comes into force today
- Lancashire and Merseyside face lockdowns with a 10pm pub and restaurant curfew - expected to be announced later today
- Scores of coronavirus hotspots across the country have emerged in recent weeks
- Coronavirus cases rose by 3,395 with 21 deaths recorded yesterday
- A new 90-minute coronavirus test is 94 per cent accurate, experts have revealed
Up to 13 million Brits have already been plunged into fresh local lockdowns in regions throughout the UK.
More than two million people in the North East are now banned from meeting friends and family from other households - inside or outside.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be reduced to table service only, and they will have to shut between 10pm and 5am.
Today's ramped-up restrictions apply to two million people across Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland.
'LAST DEFENCE'
Heath Secretary Matt Hancock said this morning that a national lockdown would be "the last line of defence".
He told Sky News: "A national lockdown is the last line of defence and we want to use local action."
He added: "I want to avoid a national lockdown."
Mr Hancock admitted that sending the country into a national lockdown wasn't off the cards.
He added: "It isn't something that we ever take off the table, but it isn't something that we want to see either.
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"The country once again needs to come together and recognise there is a serious challenge. That the virus is accelerating.
"Unfortunately, it isn't just cases increasing, it's also the number of people ending up in hospital increasing."
In at least a dozen boroughs the per 100,000 figure is about 30 or higher, according to the Standard's analysis.
The worst spike is in East London with figures between 35 and 40 in Redbridge and Newham.
In Barking, Havering, Hackney and Tower Hamlets the figure is about 30.
In West London, Hounslow has the highest figure at about 35.
If the case rate in the capital keeps rising, the plans detail more severe restrictions such as including “reintroduce epidemic controls”, “mandatory masks”, “restrict religious gatherings” and “restrict social contacts”.
A "local lockdown" should be considered if the cases per 100,000 go past 50.
Sadiq Khan has said the city is "two weeks behind" parts of the UK which have seen tighter coronavirus restrictions enforced.
The London mayor said he is "really worried" about the rising number of cases in boroughs across the capital.
He said: "What we've seen in other parts of the country and in the North East in particular is an instruction for bars and restaurants to close at 10pm.
"The reason for that is to minimise the amount of hours people spend socialising which can increase the risk of the virus spreading.
"We're looking into all possibilities in London and we're looking to see which policies across the country are successful."
He added: "According to the latest evidence I've seen we're about two weeks behind some parts of the country.
"That's why I'm saying to Londoners please follow the advice."
The Number 10 spokesman said: "No restrictions are currently planned in London."
The trigger points
The figures are the number of cases per 100,000 over seven days
- Over 20 cases - a regional assessment of the spread and agreement of extra measures to implement
- Between 20 and 25 - move from the “watching brief” phase to “national concern” that comes with increased access to mobile testing units, targeted campaigns and outreach to the community.
- Between 25 and 50 - Moves to “enhanced support” in which health chiefs may “reintroduce epidemic controls” including mandatory use of masks in more places, “restrict social contacts” and “restrict religious gatherings”. Borough leaders could “consider use of local authority powers” - including being shutting pubs and venues linked with outbreaks, or ask for a 10pm curfew
- Above 50 - the document states: “Consider local lockdown.”
It comes as Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Wolverhampton and Merseyside have been handed tough new lockdown rules with a ban on seeing friends from next Tuesday.
Even more Brits face strict local lockdown measures and curfews will be introduced in Lancashire and Merseyside as the number of new coronavirus cases in Liverpool spiralled to 100.6 cases per 100,000.
Hospitals have also have been told to find extra beds for coronavirus patients within two weeks as the NHS braces for a second spike in cases.
Isolation units for patients are being set up by freeing space on wards for those needing the most care.
One MP briefed on the plans during a conference call with health bosses told : "The rate of infection is going up.
"I was told hospitals have reserved beds for people coming out of hospital who need somewhere to recover.
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"At the start of lockdown they were having to send people back to care homes or back to other facilities, with dire consequences, so they've booked places in respite care or empty care homes.
"People will go out of hospital, but they won't return to their normal place of living.
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"They just need care before they go back home so that they empty the hospital wards."
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