London on brink of lockdown: Sadiq Khan confirms crackdown IMMINENT as Covid-19 cases soar
LONDON could see the imposition of tighter restrictions withing days as the number of new coronavirus infections continue to rise, Mayor Sadiq Khan warned.
London lockdown: Tier 2 restrictions 'days' away says Sadiq Khan
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned locals the increasing number of fresh coronavirus cases are putting the Capital on track for further restrictions. London is due to be placed under tier one of the new coronavirus monitoring system from Wednesday. But Mr Khan said the rate of infection has been steadily spiking and could result in the Capital being moved on to tier two, and stricter isolation measures, within days.
Speaking to LBC, he said: "I'm really pleased that working collegially with councils and Public Health England...we want to go as one.
"That's why I talk about the average of 90 cases per 100,000.
"We think we're approaching the trigger point and that's why I've been really upfront and straight with Londoners.
"Because of the indicators I've seen, over the course of the next few days, we will be going to tier two which is the high tier."
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Mr Khan also voiced his support for suggestions from Government advisors advocating for a snap "circuit-break" lockdown to suppress the coronavirus.
He said that would be the "most effective way to slow down the spread of the virus and to get a grip with it is a short, two-week circuit breaker across the country.
"Doing that not simply stops the spread of the virus but also avoids months and months and months of restrictions in tier one, two or three," he added.
The new tier system categorises regions across England based on the rate of infection they are experiencing.
Those with fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 residents are placed under tier one, areas with over 100 cases per 100,000 fall under tier two and those with significantly higher infections are tier three.
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According to a document released on Monday, members of SAGE had advised the Government to go for an urgent "circuit-breaker" lockdown to avoid sparking a "large epidemic."
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted Westminster has to be ready to "change tack" should the measures adopted so fare fail to succeed.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hunt said: "If it turns out that we’re not doing what we need to do to get this under control, yes, we have to change tack
"In this pandemic, everything seems to be in sort of two-week cycles, so the infections go up and then two weeks later you see admissions to hospitals go up, two weeks later you see ICU (intensive care unit) admissions go up.
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“So I think we’ve got about two weeks, no more, to see whether what we announced this week is working.”
Mr Hunt added: "I think in some ways in the start of the crisis we put scientists under too much pressure.
"When we said we’re following the science, in some ways you’re turning Chris Whitty into the secretary of state when you do that."
England's Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty on Monday also backed calls for further restrictions as he conceded the tier system may not be enough to clamp down on the pandemic.