London could move into a Tier 3 lockdown as the R rate in the capital continues to rise.
Around 9 million Londoners face further restrictions if a greater effort is not made to stop the virus spreading.
Scientists have warned the current rules are “not sufficient” to curb coronavirus.
Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick has refused to rule out London moving into Tier 3, he announced today (Thursday, October 29).
The Communities Secretary refused desperate pleas to rush England into a “circuit-breaker” or national lockdown seen in Wales or France – saying even though there were benefits, it would hurt the economy.
– Some 8.7 million people in England are already living under Tier 3 rules and this figure would double if London was upgraded to the same stage.
Under Tier 3 restrictions households are banned from meetups other than in open spaces and pubs and bars are forced to shut.
Today a damning study warns the estimated R number in London was a staggering 2.8.
The REACT study, which consists of analysis by Imperial College London and contributes to the official government figures, suggested there were around 96,000 new infections per day in the country.
And it estimated the R number was above 2 in London, the South East, East of England and South West, despite none of those areas being in Tier 3.
Study author Prof Steven Riley said “current measures are not sufficient” and said “there would be genuine benefits to some kind of national policy.”
