New Covid-19 cases in Southwark were down by 21 per cent over the past week, with signs that the Omicron variant could be slowing across south-east London.
There were 5,902 new infections recorded in the borough between December 29 and January 4, making Southwark the ninth-worst borough for new cases. Southwark previously had the third-highest number of new infections for several weeks.
Deaths linked to Covid-19 in Southwark rose from three to nine over the same period – an increase of 200 per cent. Deaths generally lag behind new cases by a few weeks, meaning that hopefully the recent decrease in infections will mean fewer people dying in January.
Some 147 people were being treated for Covid in one of the hospitals run by Guy’s and St Thomas’ trust as of December 28, the latest figures available.
New infections were down across the six south-east London boroughs. Lambeth, previously one of the worst boroughs for new cases along with Southwark, saw 5,947 new cases over the past week, a decrease of nearly 25 per cent.
Bromley had 6,430 new cases, the most in south-east London and the fourth-highest in London overall, but was down by 6.7 per cent. Lewisham’s new cases were down nearly 20 per cent at 5,682, while Greenwich saw a drop-off of more than ten per cent to 5,585. Cases in Bexley were down about one per cent, at 5,151.
Efforts to get the booster jab rolled out in Southwark continue, with 127,161 people fully vaccinated as of Monday (January 3), the latest figures available.