There were 4,694 Covid patients admitted to London hospitals in the week to January 22, with 580 on that day, compared to a peak of 977 on January 6.
Official statistics released today reveal that Covid cases in London have halved in 16 days since the second wave peak of more than 100,000 a week.
Figures show that there were 50,067 confirmed cases in the week to January 20, a drop from 100,211 in the week to January 4. The seven-day rate in the capital has gone from 1118.2 new infections per 100,000 Londoners early this month to 558.7.
The rate of decline in cases has decelerated in recent days but the number of new cases announced on Monday was 3,836, dramatically lower than earlier this month. The figures are a success story although the capital has to get them much lower for the lockdown to be relaxed and for hospitals to be under less pressure.
There were 19,004 fewer confirmed cases in the week to January 20, compared to the previous week. The real number of infections is likely to be much higher, due to how many people have the virus but are asymptomatic. Confirmed cases are only one indicator of the disease, and depend on people being tested. Nevertheless, it is a step in the direction.
On Monday, a further 25,486 first dose Covid jabs were announced to have been administered in the city, taking the total so far to 612,045.
There were 4,694 Covid patients admitted to London hospitals in the week to January 22, with 580 on that day, compared to a peak of 977 on January 6. On Sunday, the number of Covid patients in the city’s hospital was 7,030, down from 7,917 on the 18th. The number of people who required breathing assistance on ventilators in London was 1,220 as of Sunday, and this figure has not changed.
On Monday, 106 more Covid deaths (those who have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid) were announced for London, taking the total in London from the virus to 12,484.