MATT Hancock will make a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon as London is on the brink of Tier 3.
The Health Secretary is set to give MPs an update on the latest surge in Covid infections at around 3.30pm today, as fears the capital’s restaurants and pubs will be forced to close have grown.
In another crunch briefing with health ministers, London MPs were told new Covid cases were “off the charts” and “drastic action was needed” as Mr Hancock prepared to brief the House of Commons.
And there are concerns the Tiers could be beefed up even further, as the rules were not working well enough in areas under the toughest restrictions, such as Kent.
One London MP told HOAR: “They were ringing every single alarm bell they can – but no extra action is being taken at all.”
Mr Hancock had said previously decisions on changing Tiers would be ever two weeks, with an announcement not until Thursday.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has even called for schools in the capital to be closed a week early, as cases have skyrocketed for kids aged between 11 and 18 years old.
Mr Khan demanded all workers who can’t stay home be tested and for people to wear face coverings outside in public spaces too.
The average number of new cases over seven-days has risen in 32 local authority areas.
And there are 17 boroughs where the infection rate has jumped above 200 cases per 100,000.
According to the latest figures, the borough of Havering has the highest coronavirus rate in London, with 1,314 new cases recorded in the seven days to December 9 – the equivalent of 506.3 cases per 100,000 people.
This is up from a rate of 321.3 in the seven days to December 2.
In a letter to Boris Johnson, Mr Khan called the surge in cases “deeply concerning”.
Face coverings should also be made mandatory in busy outdoor public spaces given the increase in Christmas shoppers over the coming weeks, he added.
Mr Khan said: “Time is running out to get the virus under control in our city which is why I urge the Government to heed my call and provide us with the extra support we desperately need.”
