Covid cases on the rise: How many over 60s are testing positive with coronavirus in your London borough?

More than 1,700 over-60s tested positive for Covid-19 in London earlier this month, as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

On Monday, the UK recorded the largest daily rise in Covid cases since lockdown rules ended in England three months ago - with 49,156 new infections.

However, despite this, health secretary Sajid Javid said the Government would not be implementing Plan B - which includes making face coverings and vaccine passports mandatory.

It is thought that part of the reason Covid cases are rising is due to vaccine efficacy wearing off, which leaves elderly people more vulnerable as they had their jabs earlier.

The Government is rolling out the booster programme, however across London and the rest of the country there is concern that people at-risk are catching coronavirus again.

Between October 6 and 12, the latest available NHS figures, 1,760 over-60s tested postive for Covid-19 across London.

The borough with the highest rate of infections amongst over-60s was Hounslow.

In the west London area, there were 153 cases per 100,000 people aged 60 or more.

Barnet, in north London, had the second highest rate amongst boroughs.

There were 152 cases per 100,000 people aged 60 plus.

Kingston-upon-Thames and Redbridge both had the third highest rates, at 149 per 100,000 over-60s.

While Hillingdon had the fifth highest rate at 146 cases per 100,000.

Sutton wasn’t far behind with 144 cases per 100,000, while Croydon had the seventh highest rate at 137 per 100,000.

Fellow outer London boroughs Merton, Richmond and Haringey rounded out the top 10.

Camden had the lowest rate of over-60s who had contracted Covid between October 6 and 12.

Just 67 people per 100,000 over 60s caught Covid in the inner London borough.

Westminster and Southwark were next best, both with a rate of 79 people with Covid per 100,000 over 60s.

Rounding out the bottom five were Barking and Dagenham, with 86 cases per 100,000, and Lewisham, with 87 cases per 100,000.

Compared to a lot of the country, Londoners aged over 60 have been getting Covid at a lower rate.

In council areas across England, Copeland, in western Cumbria, has the highest recorded weekly rate of Covid infections in those aged 60 and over.

Copeland tallied up 83 new cases in the seven days to 12 October, giving it the highest rate in England at 401 per 100,000 people aged 60 and over.

Leeds has seen the highest number of new cases among 60 and overs, with 467 recorded, a rate of 288.

With soaring infection rates, doctors have accused ministers of being “wilfully negligent” with the Government ruling out immediately implementing Plan B.

British Medical Association (BMA) council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “The Westminster Government said it would enact Plan B to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

“As doctors working on the frontline, we can categorically say that time is now.

““By the Health Secretary’s own admission we could soon see 100,000 cases a day and we now have the same number of weekly Covid deaths as we had during March, when the country was in lockdown.

“It is therefore incredibly concerning that he is not willing to take immediate action to save lives and to protect the NHS.”

Dr Nagpaul added that he believed the Government had “taken its foot off the brake, giving the impression that the pandemic is behind us and that life has returned to normal”.

He said: “It is wilfully negligent of the Westminster Government not to be taking any further action to reduce the spread of infection, such as mandatory mask wearing, physical distancing and ventilation requirements in high-risk settings, particularly indoor crowded spaces.

“These are measures that are the norm in many other nations.”