Coronavirus continues to surge across the UK at the end of October, with tens of thousands of cases per day and a growing spike in deaths. Several regions have now entered lockdown under the Government’s Tier system, some under the highest possible restrictions. London, the UK’s biggest city, remains one step away from Tier 3, but may soon be pushed over the line.
Will London go into Tier 3?
London’s case rate has nearly tipped the scale towards Tier 3 requirements, as the city has a case rate of 151 per 100,000 per data from October 17 to 23.
The latest figures show a jump from a rate of 111 the previous week.
The R rate – which specifies how many people one infected person could pass the disease to – could be as high as 2.9.
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The rate sits on the precipice of some of the UK’s Tier 3 regions, and experts fear the city is a matter of weeks away from this level of lockdown itself.
Speaking to Politico, a Government source revealed it is a matter of “when” the city would lock down, rather than “if”.
Sources close to the Mayor of London told the Metro it could enter Tier 3 in “the coming weeks”.
The Government is yet to reveal whether it has any immediate plans for the capital.
Officials remain convinced the country needed a “circuit-breaker” lockdown to avoid dire consequences for London.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, a City Hall source said the Government could need to implement both a local lockdown in London and then a national one following without it.
They also urged ministers not to wait “until it is too late”.
They said: “If Government does not bring in a circuit breaker, it is highly likely that Tier 3 restrictions will be brought to London in the coming weeks, and then a longer lockdown might well be needed.”
“We know that when it comes to this virus acting early and decisively is best, both for public health, but also for the economy.”
“The more we delay in implementing measures, the more stringent they need to be and the longer they have to be in place.
“The mayor is clear that with cases, hospitalisations and death rising across the country since August, the Government should have listened to the advice of Sage and introduced a short circuit breaker.
“Ministers must ask to bring in a circuit breaker before it’s too late and the country is plunged into a deeper health crisis with a longer lockdown needed.”
