he number of daily new COVID-19 infections in Southwark has fallen to levels not seen since early October.
As we reported last week, infection rates in the borough tumbled by more than 50 per cent as the results of the latest lockdown and first tranche of vaccinations bore fruit.
On Monday, Southwark’s rate of infection was 64.9; making it one of ten boroughs in London to see case rates drop below 70.
In the seven days up to Monday the borough had posted 207 new cases, a drop of over a third compared to the previous work.
Twenty-three lab-confirmed COVID-19 infections were identified on Tuesday (February 23), down from a record high of 698 on December 29.
The decline is a trend across London, which had been one of the worst affected cities in the second wave.
Promising new peer-reviewed research has also highlighted the success of the vaccination programme in reducing hospitalisations.
Early data suggest the risk of admission is reduced by 85 to 90 per cent after being given Astra Zeneca and Pfizer jabs respectively, with a combined reduction in risk of 80 per cent for people over the age of 80 – after just one dose.