Published: Thursday 2 July 2020
You may have seen news reports that a number of areas across England, including Kensington and Chelsea, could be put into a local lockdown. This is not the case, public health data does not suggest that there are currently a significant number of cases, although there is weekly fluctuations. The situation is constantly monitored, and we are working closely with Public Health England and there are currently no plans for a local lockdown.
There were 18 cases in the borough in the last two weeks up to 29 June. As you can see the numbers are small and our current rate over two weeks is 14/100,000, for comparison Leicester is 135 per 100,000. Cases are scattered geographically in the borough, with no apparent clustering.
It is however very important that we all continue to observe 2m social distancing whenever possible, wear face coverings on public transport and in busy places and wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or hand sanitizer if soap and water is unavailable.
Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director for Public Health England, also commented on the reports, saying that: “The number of new cases of coronavirus is under close, active surveillance across the country and small fluctuations day by day are to be expected.
“The increases in some boroughs that have been reported are mainly sporadic and are being uncovered as we scale up testing and contact tracing activity across the city.
“Importantly, the overall levels of coronavirus in London remain low and steady. We’re working closely with all local authorities to prepare for and manage any potential local clusters and outbreaks and our epidemiological analysis will play an important role identifying if there is a significant sustained increase in the community.
“As we carefully emerge from lockdown, it is important now more than ever that Londoners continue to follow government advice on social distancing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings, and practicing good hand hygiene, in order to keep the number of new cases in London on its way down. If you have a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change to your sense of smell or taste, stay at home and arrange a test immediately.”