CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
London could be plunged into Tier 3 Covid rules next week as cases rise
LONDONERS could be plunged into Tier 3 a WEEK before Christmas as infections continue to rise across the capital.
The capital is now higher than many Tier 3 areas with more than 15,000 people testing positive in the past week and cases growing in 21 of the city's 32 boroughs.
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan said plunging into the most extreme tier would be "catastrophic" to businesses already struggling under the Covid pandemic.
London's director for PHE, Prof Kevin Fenton today urged people to stick to social distancing rules as the capital enters the first weekend since restrictions eased
Prof Fenton warned that the situation in the capital is "delicate" and said decisions made now would impact the situation over Christmas and the New Year.
The capital is now the second-worst region in the country, just behind the West Midlands with more than 15,000 people testing positive in the past week.
Havering has the highest infection rate, with 319 positive cases per 100,000 in the last week - more than double England's average of 149 per 100,000.
In Haringey, positive Covid tests surged by 47 per cent by the week ending December 2 - despite having a national lockdown.
Barking and Dagenham have 299, Redbridge 295, Waltham Forest 252.
Cases are also high and rising in Kingston upon Thames with 206 and Enfield with 193.
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However Ealing, Hounslow, Brent, Kensington, Hammersmith &; Fulham and Richmond upon Thames all had falls of five percent of infection rates.
Just five days after the second lockdown ended, people testing positive started to rise again with 14,718 cases confirmed today.
Bromley also saw infection rates rocket by 40 per cent in the last week of lockdown, according to Public Health England data.
In Bexley, Harrow, Hackney, Kingston and Merton saw spikes of 25 per cent.
On December 16, government officials will review local lockdown rules for the first time since the country was released from national lockdown in November.
Today Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that sending London into Tier 3 would be "catastrophic" and officials are reported to be "starting to get worried about it again."
A source at Public Health England told there is 'concern across the system' about the level of footfall on London's streets as hordes of shoppers hit Oxford Street.
Public Health England data shows that 20 of London's boroughs have infection rates higher than the England average, and 21 boroughs have rates that rose in the seven days up to December 2.
'CATASTROPHIC'
There are fears the city would have to be put back into a lockdown to help get on top of spiralling rates.
Professor Paul Hunter at the University of East Anglia said it was "very worrying" that cases had increased after November's national lockdown.
He told The Telegraph: "There were more cases at the end of lockdown than at the start in London.
“It is very worrying when cases were still continuing to increase in these regions despite the national lockdown. It is quite likely that case numbers will start to accelerate even more in coming days probably including in areas not yet showing an increase because of more movement around London.
“If cases in London were rising even during a national lockdown then we do need to reconsider the Tier allocation in these areas. Whether across the region or at the Local Authority level is open to debate.”
Last Saturday was dubbed 'Stupor Saturday' as millions took to the high streets across the UK and splashed out £4billion - helping to boost the flailing economy.
But it was nearly impossible to socially distance as the high street filled with people clutching shopping bags.
On Sunday luxury store Harrods in London was "overrun" with 300 young people without facemasks believed to be members of the traveller community.
Worried on-lookers described chaotic scenes that triggered fears of a terrorist attack as those gathered outside the luxury store tried to force their way in.
Photos show the large crowd - which gathered around 11.30am - crammed into a pedestrian street outside Harrods
Most of the people involved were not wearing masks or respecting social distancing rules, according to witnesses.
Speaking to Sky News today, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'If London were to go into Tier Three it would be catastrophic to those industries already really crippling under the Covid pandemic.
'That could mean many shops going bust, many bars, pubs and restaurants going bust.
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'We're keen to make sure we stay in Tier Two. Tier Two, as well, has got many challenges for us but it's really important that London has continued to make the huge sacrifices they've done.
'Nobody wants London to go into Tier Three or even the country to go into a further, third, national lockdown.'
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