Covid: London's virus death toll exceeds 10,000

More than 10,000 Londoners have now died with coronavirus, official figures show.

A total of 10,122 people in London have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, according to Public Health England's latest data.

Currently 7,607 patients are in the capital's hospitals with Covid - including 1,085 people on ventilation.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the milestone was "heartbreaking" and urged people to stay at home.

Government figures show on the day the England-wide lockdown was announced in November, there were 1,102 coronavirus patients in hospitals across the capital.]

At the end of the four-week lockdown on 2 December, the admission figure had risen to 1,637 but that had now gone up to 7,607.

Reacting to the 10,000 deaths milestone Mr Khan told the BBC: "They are not numbers or a statistic, every one of these lives lost is a tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends.

"The virus has devastated families and communities, widened inequalities across our city and changed our entire way of life - and sadly we know that there are still incredibly difficult times ahead."

Figures also show three east London boroughs currently have the highest coronavirus infection rates in the country.

Barking and Dagenham has the most with 1,540.1 per 100,000 people, while Newham has recorded 1,398.6 per 100,000 and there are 1,348.2 per 100,000 infections in Redbridge.

NHS data shows two east London hospital trusts have recorded more than 1,000 Covid-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust, which manages Queen's Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Goodmayes, has seen 1,153 deaths linked to coronavirus.

Barts NHS Trust, which runs five hospitals including Whipps Cross and Royal London, has recorded 1,150 since March.

London's medical director Dr Vin Diwakar told Tuesday's Downing Street press briefing the infection rise in the capital was putting pressure on the NHS's ability to cope with other illnesses.

Dr Dikwakar warned Covid admissions had surged by more than 6,000 in six weeks.

The Nightingale hospital at the ExCeL Centre has been reopened to take non-coronavirus patients, in order to free up beds inside London's hospitals.

The site in east London has also opened as the capital's first mass vaccination centre.

Mr Khan added: "The rollout of the vaccines is a light at the end of the tunnel but the situation in our capital is critical.

"It's vital that Londoners stay at home, unless it is absolutely necessary, to help save lives by protecting themselves, others and our NHS."

On Friday, the mayor declared a "major incident" as he described the coronavirus spread in the capital as "out of control".

Since then, 125 firefighters and 75 Met Police officers have been drafted in to help the London Ambulance Service (LAS) cope with demand.

Mr Khan said at that time the LAS had been taking up to 8,000 emergency calls a day, compared to 5,500 on a typical busy day.

Elsewhere, the owners of the Best Western chain, the London Hotel Group (LHG), has announced it will accommodate patients deemed ready to leave King's College Hospital.

A King's College spokesman said the move would mainly accommodate "homeless patients who are ready to safely leave hospital".

Mr Khan also spoke to LBC and told listeners the epidemic "is far worse than it was in the spring".

He added: "The pressures on the NHS are far higher, yet the lockdown measures are much lighter."

Mr Khan said he and the leader of London Councils, Georgie Gould, have written to the prime minister "pleading with him to have additional restrictions on our city".

"We think that's the best way to save lives and stop the NHS being overwhelmed," he said.

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