Covid-19 Infection Rates Fall Across Shepherd's Bush
Despite decline in positive tests prevalence of virus remains high
One of the borough testing teams in Shepherd's Bush library
The latest data on infection rates in the W12 area shows that the number of cases of Covid-19 is generally declining.
Most areas saw double digit percentage falls in the week to 12 January compared to the previous week most notably around Wormholt Road where cases more than halved.
Shepherd’s Bush North saw 43 cases in the week to give an infection rate per 100,000 of 601.7 below the borough average. In the south of the area the numbers were broadly similar.
Despite the falls, these levels of infections are way above the levels at which lockdown was imposed.
Only in White City does the level of infection remain stubbornly high with an infection rate of 1,206.0 caused by 68 cases, a slight rise over the week.
Since the beginning of the pandemic 46 people have died in the W12 post code area with two more deaths being recorded in December.
Hammersmith and Fulham has one of the lowest infection rates in London at the moment with 608 cases per 100,000 people up to 12 January. More than 10,000 residents and workers in H&F have now taken a rapid test to protect their households against further infection. Hundreds of others have also received their second dose of the vaccine.
Local hospitals continue to report increased admissions for coronavirus and, given the lag between infection and the need for hospitalisation, this is likely to increase even if infections start to fall more generally. Local ICU beds are already reportedly at full capacity. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust – which runs Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital and St Mary’s in Paddington – had 308 Covid patients in beds across the three sites as of Wednesday, January 5. Of these, 58 were on beds in intensive care with ventilators – machines that take over a patient’s breathing, often while they are sedated
| Covid-19 Infection Rates in week to 12 January | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Number of cases | Change in week (%) | Infection rate per 100,000 | Deaths since March |
White City |
68 |
1.5 |
1,206.0 |
0 |
| Old Oak & Wormwood (MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 001) |
81 |
-32.5 |
827.6 |
11 |
Shepherd's Bush West |
53 |
-13.1 |
771.1 |
4 |
Askew |
58 |
-15.9 |
708.5 |
8 |
Shepherd's Bush South |
42 |
-16.0 |
649.8 |
5 |
| Shepherd's Bush North (MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 004) |
43 |
-25.9 |
601.7 |
1 |
Brook Green |
39 |
8.3 |
492.1 |
5 |
Wormholt Road |
32 |
-54.3 |
472.9 |
12 |
Source: ONS
Map of the area designations around Shepherd's Bush
On 17 January the daily number of new people tested positive for COVID-19 in London was reported as 9,995 bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases identified in the capital to over 580,000. This compares to a figure of 2,958,104 cases for England as a whole
In the most recent week of complete data, to 12 January, 72,672 cases were identified in London, a rate of 811 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 94,829 cases and a rate of 1058 for the previous week.
302,795 cases were identified in England as a whole in the same period, a rate of 538 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 368,135 cases and a rate of 654 for the previous week.
Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director for Public Health England, said, “Case rates in London remain extremely high and around 10,000 Londoners were diagnosed with COVID every day this week. This level of transmission is severe, and continues to drive pressure on the NHS, with more Londoners being admitted to ICU and ultimately dying from this disease or having long-term complications.
“As a result, we have more difficult weeks ahead of us. This more contagious variant means we are unlikely to see sharp declines like we did in the first wave, and the longer cases remain high, the more deaths we will see.
“That is why we must work twice as hard to reduce transmission and lower infections. Staying at home and cutting our contacts will stop the virus spreading, reduce cases more quickly and ultimately save lives.”
Tier four restrictions now apply to the area. These are similar to those imposed during the first national lockdown with people being told to stay at home - although travel for work is still permitted.
Social mixing is restricted to meeting one other person from outside your household in an open public space. All non-essential retail will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars and indoor entertainment venues.
Support bubbles remain unaffected, as do the exemptions for separated parents and their children
January 18, 2021