Hammersmith & Fulham London's Second Highest for Covid


Borough infection rates now at the level UK quarantines other countries

Hammersmith & Fulham London’s Second Highest for Covid

Hammersmith and Fulham recorded the second-highest coronavirus infection rate of any London borough last week.

Between August 31 and September 6, there were 37 news cases of COVID-19 recorded in the borough.

Its official infection rate per 100,000 people was 20 which is the level the UK is currently imposing a quarantine on people arriving from other countries.

Between August 28 and September 3 there were 16 positive cases were among residents who live in Fulham neighbourhoods, including Parson Green, Munster Road, Eel Brook Common and Greyhound Road.

Nine cases were also recorded in parts of Hammersmith such as the town centre, Brackenbury Village and Hammersmith Grove.

During this time hardly any cases were recorded in neighbourhoods around Shepherd’s Bush or White City.

The borough with the highest infection rate was neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea, which last week had 24.3 per 100,000 cases and 38 new cases confirmed.

Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea also have the smallest populations of any London boroughs, at 185,000 and 156,000 respectively.

The eight London boroughs with the following highest rates were:

Harrow – 19.1 per 100,000
Wandsworth – 18.8
Hackney and the City of London – 16.8
Lambeth – 16.3
Barnet – 15.7
Waltham Forest – 15.5
Richmond Upon Thames – 15.2
Tower Hamlets – 14.8

Whilst infection rates are rising, nowhere in the capital is at risk of being placed on the government’s “watch list”. This is when a part of the country or a city reaches a rate of 40 cases per 100,000.

There are currently 39 areas in England that were on the “watch list” last week, either because they had just reached the 40 cases threshold or had done so in a previous week.

Pendle in Lancashire had the highest infection rate last week. It is also one of 15 parts of the country where residents are not allowed to visit other households, as part of re-imposed lockdown measures.

A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council previously said, “The best way to stay safe, and to help avoid another lockdown, is to observe social distancing, wear a face covering in shops and on public transport, and to regularly wash your hands.

“It is vital to get tested if you experience symptoms of COVID-19 – that’s a new continuous cough, a temperature, or a loss of/change to sense of taste or smell.

“We have arranged additional mobile testing facilities in the borough – you can find the latest info on where to get a test at www.lbhf.gov.uk/gettested.”

Owen Sheppard - Local Democracy Reporter

September 8, 2020