London looks likely to be moved into a Tier 3 lockdown after the government admitted cases were “off the chart”.
MPs were given a stark briefing on the scale of the virus in the Tier 2 capital today ahead of its status being reviewed on Wednesday.
While London’s future Tier was not confirmed, several MPs say they were left in no doubt that the capital will move to Tier 3.
At the end of the briefing, it was unclear whether the government might act sooner and make an announcement today.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to give a statement to the Commons at 3.30pm, but the subject is yet to be confirmed.
The capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan said an announcement may be made as soon as today after the rapid growth in Covid-19.
He told Sky News “it’s possible” that a decision will be made today “because we have seen over the last few days a big increase in the virus”.
He added: “My understanding is that Covid-O is meeting as we speak – that’s the sub-committee of the Cabinet that makes the recommendations.
“We will have to wait and see what the Government decides – it’s a Government decision, not my decision or London leaders’ decision.”
Mr Khan said any decision must be obeyed but Tier 3 was a “blunt instrument” that wouldn’t deal with all the bigger problems.
MPs from London and Home Counties including Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Kent were briefed today by the government as local restaurants, bars and cafes face being shut down this week.
Kent is currently the only large part of southern England in Tier 3, with the capital still in Tier 2 which allows pubs to remain open. Most of the 23million in Tier 3 are in the Midlands and northern England.
But MPs were today told there is exponential growth of Covid-19 in the capital, and cases are also rising in places just beyond its borders.
Three sources said Thomas Waite, Director of Health Protection at the Joint Biosecurity Centre, told MPs case rates were “off the chart”.
An estimated 4,710 people in London tested on December 11 came back positive for Covid-19 – almost double the 2,402 on December 6.
The data for December 11 is still incomplete because it is so recent, and could be revised down.
But it may also be revised up as more tests come back with results.
London hit 225 new cases per 100,000 in the seven days to December 8, up every day since a lockdown low of 155 per 100,000 on November 26.
Sources said Health Minister Helen Whately warned the government would need to move quickly – but stopped short of saying Tier 3 could be imposed before the official review data of Wednesday.
One MP said: “It felt like they would have to move sooner, but I can’t be sure. They’ve been so bloody slow all along.”
It’s understood Mr Khan’s team hadn’t been told for certain by noon whether a decision would be announced today.
