Home / Royal Mail / How London’s coronavirus crisis is escalating – as Rutland is the ONLY place to not record a case

How London’s coronavirus crisis is escalating – as Rutland is the ONLY place to not record a case

The number of coronavirus cases in London has almost quadrupled in a week as the UK’s epidemic continues to spread into all corners of the British Isles.

The capital city now has at least 4,637 cases, a jump from the 1,221 reported last Friday, three days before Britons were ordered to stay indoors to try and stop the outbreak.

Some 228 of the 759 deaths recorded in Britain have been in London, including 57 of the 181 announced today. 

Scientists say the official figures represent the fallout of Britons carrying on their lives as normal before lockdown, cramming into pubs and working in offices despite COVID-19 cases emerging. 

Birmingham is the single local authority with the most cases, with 366 confirmed patients, and the West Midlands around it has become the biggest hotspot outside of London, with more than 1,630 cases.

However, nearby Rutland, in the East Midlands, has reported zero cases so far.

This makes it the only district in the country to be without a single confirmed case of the coronavirus among its population of around 38,000.

Today the bombshell news that The Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both tested positive for coronavirus has shaken the Government.

London is at the centre of the UK’s fast expanding coronavirus outbreak and Southwark and Lambeth are the worst hit boroughs, with more than 500 cases between them

London's coronavirus cases have increased three-fold in a week as the crisis escalates rapidly

London’s coronavirus cases have increased three-fold in a week as the crisis escalates rapidly

Rutland, in the East Midlands, has reported zero cases so far, making it the only county to be in that position. Pictured, Oakham, the county town

Rutland, in the East Midlands, has reported zero cases so far, making it the only county to be in that position. Pictured, Oakham, the county town

The Government announced today that 14,543 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus  in the UK.

The figure is expected to be far higher, and could be as high as 760,000 mark based on an assumption backed by a Government scientist that there are 1,000 cases for each recorded death.

London has been more significantly impacted by the deadly virus than anywhere else in the country and accounts for almost a third of all cases. 

The boroughs of Southwark (290), Lambeth (276), Brent (265) and Wandsworth (228) have each reported more than 200 cases.

They are among the 10 hardest hit areas in the whole of the UK, with Croydon (219), Westminster (189) and Harrow (196) not far behind. 

Other hotspots are appearing in the UK, including Hampshire (317), Sheffield (286) and Cumbria (211).  

Middlesbrough, North East Lincolnshire and Telford and Wrekin have all reported their first cases in the past two weeks.

Rutland – the smallest county in England – is the only place to remain unscathed.

Today it was revealed The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has coronavirus. Fiancee Carrie Symonds is believed to be in self-isolation (pictured together on March 9 at Westminster Abbey)

Today it was revealed The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has coronavirus. Fiancee Carrie Symonds is believed to be in self-isolation (pictured together on March 9 at Westminster Abbey)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing Street, London, joining in with a national applause for the NHS from their doorsteps last night

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing Street, London, joining in with a national applause for the NHS from their doorsteps last night

Within hours of the news from Mr Johnson, Matt Hancock revealed he has also tested positive for the virus

Within hours of the news from Mr Johnson, Matt Hancock revealed he has also tested positive for the virus

The disparities between areas is mainly down to how many people live somewhere and how close together they are, explains Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia.

WHERE ARE THE CORONAVIRUS CASES AND DEATHS IN THE UK? 

LOCATION 

London

South East

South West

North West

NE/Yorks

Midlands

East 

Unclear

CASES

3,919 

1,129

435

837

891

1,636

592

2,867 

ENGLAND TOTAL: 

12,324 cases, 679 deaths 

NORTHERN IRELAND TOTAL:

275 cases, 13 deaths

WALES TOTAL:

921 cases, 34 deaths

SCOTLAND TOTAL:

1,059 cases, 33 deaths 

BRITAIN TOTAL:

14,579 cases, 759 deaths 

He told MailOnline: ‘If you’ve got people crammed into a city, there will be more contact between people.

‘London was always going to be the worst and first. Before the lockdown, there was still a lot of nightlife, people going to the theatre and jammed into bars. They are crammed in like sardines and won’t be two metres apart.

‘London undoubtedly, before last week, is one of the busiest transport systems in Europe. So the spread would have partly been due to extra crowds.

‘Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. If population density is driving cases, then Birmingham might well be the second largest outbreak.’ 

Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health, University of Southampton, added: ‘There will also be differences in how many tests are carried out across regions. It is likely that London is testing greater numbers than elsewhere.

‘Hampshire is one of the higher counties in terms of recorded cases, and we think that is in part because at Southampton, there are greater numbers of tests being processed than at many hospitals.’  

And Dr Derek Gatherer, an infectious disease expert at Lancaster University, said: ‘I’m not sure London really is faring worse, just faring sooner. 

‘Other urban centres will probably see similar surges, although the lockdown may flatten their peaks a little compared to London.’ 

Workers outside entrance of the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital - the NHS Nightingale hospital, comprising of two wards, each of 2,000 people, to help tackle coronavirus in London

Workers outside entrance of the ExCel centre in London which is being made into a temporary hospital – the NHS Nightingale hospital, comprising of two wards, each of 2,000 people, to help tackle coronavirus in London

Hospital beds being delivered to Excel London NHS Nightingale

Hospital beds being delivered to Excel London NHS Nightingale

Police officers are seen speaking on Clapham Common on March 25.  The force has been setting up road blocks, dispersing crowds and stopping cars to demand journey details

Police officers are seen speaking on Clapham Common on March 25.  The force has been setting up road blocks, dispersing crowds and stopping cars to demand journey details

London: A police officer speaks to a couple sat at a bench in the sunshine in Greenwich Park

London: A police officer speaks to a couple sat at a bench in the sunshine in Greenwich Park

BORIS JOHNSON TESTS POSITIVE

Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus. The Prime Minister is now self-isolating in Number 11 Downing Street but is continuing to work as aides leave papers and food at the door of his office for him to pick up.

The positive test for the PM has shaken the government to its core with Health Secretary Matt Hancock also announcing he is self-isolating because he is suffering from the disease.

Despite the fact that coronavirus is now firmly at the heart of British democracy, Downing Street said senior ministers and officials will not be tested unless they start to show the key symptoms of a fever or a persistent cough.

Mr Johnson started to feel unwell yesterday afternoon and was then tested and while he waited he took part in the clap for NHS staff event in the early evening alongside Chancellor Rishi Sunak who was stood at least two metres away.

The PM then received his test results at midnight as he formalised his self-isolation arrangements.  

Britain’s Chief Medical Officer has also announced he will now be self-isolating after developing coronavirus symptoms.

Professor Chris Whitty who has been one of the leading voices during the deadly outbreak said he will continue to advise the government but will be doing so from home as coronavirus hit hard at the heart of government.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week the Government was looking ‘very, very closely’ at why so many patients had died in the West Midlands.

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has recorded the highest death toll of any trust, with 37 of the total in the UK.

Hospital sources suggested the patients had mostly been the elderly or those with underlying health conditions.  

Anecdotal evidence suggested people’s religious convictions and fears of social isolation could be behind the high numbers of cases, The Guardian reports. 

In an interview, the Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood said older Muslim and Sikh people in the area were struggling to adhere to government guidelines about physical distancing because of their religious convictions.  

Despite the 66million Britons being forced to stay in their homes, scientists say a drop in COVID-19 cases won’t be seen for some time due to the delay in transmission and a diagnosis.

If someone was infected before the lockdown in the pub, gym, or at a social gathering, they may not show symptoms for up to six days later. 

By the time they are tested in hospital – the only way to receive a test – and get a diagnosis, it will be two to three weeks after transmision.

Dr Head said: ‘The lockdown-type measures will take a week or two to really have an impact. We’re now recording the cases where there was transmission several days back.’

REVEALED: HOW MANY CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS ARE THERE IN YOUR TOWN? 
LOCAL AUTHORITY CASES LOCAL AUTHORITY CASES
Birmingham 366 Shropshire 53
Hampshire 317 Trafford 53
Southwark 290 Kingston upon Thames 52
Sheffield 286 Oldham 51
Lambeth 276 Portsmouth 50
Surrey 271 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 48
Brent 265 Medway 48
Wandsworth 228 Coventry 47
Croydon 219 Luton 47
Cumbria 211 Northumberland 45
Ealing 209 Tameside 43
Hertfordshire 206 Barnsley 42
Harrow 196 Central Bedfordshire 42
Westminster 189 Rochdale 40
Bromley 188 East Sussex 39
Kent 182 Lincolnshire 39
Derbyshire 170 Rotherham 39
Essex 166 Solihull 39
Lewisham 158 South Gloucestershire 37
Newham 148 Southampton 37
Staffordshire 145 Windsor and Maidenhead 37
Lancashire 141 North Tyneside 36
Enfield 136 Cheshire East 35
Nottinghamshire 135 Wakefield 34
Hackney and City of London 134 Brighton and Hove 33
Waltham Forest 130 Kirklees 33
Hillingdon 129 Plymouth 32
Tower Hamlets 129 St. Helens 32
Greenwich 128 West Berkshire 32
Leicestershire 128 Wirral 32
Merton 128 Bury 30
Wolverhampton 128 Sefton 30
Hounslow 126 Bradford 29
Newcastle upon Tyne 121 Dorset 29
Islington 120 Bolton 27
Kensington and Chelsea 116 Bath and North East Somerset 26
Barnet 115 Thurrock 26
Redbridge 115 Cheshire West and Chester 25
Haringey 113 Reading 25
Oxfordshire 113 Somerset 25
Hammersmith and Fulham 112 Doncaster 24
Buckinghamshire 106 North Somerset 24
Sandwell 103 Stockton-on-Tees 24
Warwickshire 101 East Riding of Yorkshire 23
Liverpool 100 Gateshead 23
Walsall 100 Herefordshire, County of 23
Camden 99 Torbay 23
Worcestershire 93 Wokingham 22
Northamptonshire 86 Stoke-on-Trent 21
West Sussex 86 Telford and Wrekin 21
Bexley 85 Wigan 21
Barking and Dagenham 82 Bedford 20
Havering 82 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 20
Dudley 81 South Tyneside 19
Leeds 80 Middlesbrough 17
Nottingham 79 Southend-on-Sea 17
Gloucestershire 78 York 17
Derby 77 Bracknell Forest 16
Norfolk 70 Swindon 16
North Yorkshire 69 Knowsley 15
Sutton 69 Warrington 15
Cambridgeshire 68 Redcar and Cleveland 13
Richmond upon Thames 68 Calderdale 11
Devon 65 Darlington 11
Manchester 63 Peterborough 11
Leicester 61 Halton 10
Suffolk 61 Blackpool 9
Slough 59 Isle of Wight 8
Stockport 59 Blackburn with Darwen 7
Milton Keynes 58 Hartlepool 6
Salford 58 North Lincolnshire 6
Bristol, City of 56 Kingston upon Hull, City of 5
County Durham 56 North East Lincolnshire 5
Sunderland 55 Rutland 0
Wiltshire 54

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