Covid-19: London reports biggest rise

London: Positive tests results are raging in the region as the nation is grappling with new variant of covid 19.

Case rates per 100,000 have increased across England. London reported the highest at the rate of 602.2 per 100,000 population—upward from 362.8 the previous week, according to the report by Public Health England( PHE).

PHE report weekly monitors covid 19, influenza and other respiratory viruses in England; the new case rate is based on data from week 51 (between December 14 and 20).

Case rates have increased across all age groups as well: the highest rate 434.6 per 100,000 reported among ages between 30 and 39.

The hospital admission rate for Covid-19 was 18.66 per 100,000 in week 51, compared to 15.18 per 100,000 in the previous week.

As for hospital admission rate, all regions but for the northeast of England showed spike—however northeast reported highest rate 23.44 cases.

It means more than 2,100 Covid-19 patients were admitted to London hospitals in a week. And cases soared by nearly 56,000, official figures have revealed.

Growing number of people need hospital treatment, with 357 admitted to hospitals in the city on Dec. 18, and 366 the previous day.

"This will not be a normal Christmas for any of us. If you are seeing loved ones, try to keep your distance, wash your hands thoroughly and more often and ventilate as much as possible," said Yvonne Doyle, medical director at the PHE.

London and large parts of England are currently put into the Tier Four restrictions, the highest level.

Under the new tougher measures, residents in Tier Four areas must stay at home, with limited exemptions. People are also urged to work from home when they can, and should not enter or leave those areas.

Meanwhile countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States are racing to develop coronavirus vaccines.

IANS report with edits