No new deaths linked to coronavirus have been reported in London in the past 24 hours.
Figures from NHS England this afternoon said of 59 hospital deaths reported nationally in the 24 hours to 5pm yesterday zero had been in hospitals in the capital.
However, it said that “a small number of deaths occurred, which will be announced in coming days”.
This is because there can be a time lag, especially at weekends, in patients dying and an official notification being sent to NHS England.
It is possible that some London deaths outside of hospital will be announced later this afternoon when more comprehensive Public Health England statistics are released.
However the fact there have been no hospital deaths reported in London, the region that was hit first and hardest by coronavirus, will add to hopes that the pandemic is dying out and that lockdown can continue to be eased.
According to provisional NHS England data, nobody died in hospital in London with Covid-19 on either Saturday or Sunday.
Yesterday four deaths were reported in London hospitals – three in Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS trust, which runs Queen’s and King George hospitals, and one of a patient in the care of North East London NHS trust.
Two of these deaths occurred last Thursday and two last Friday.
The total number of reported deaths in London hospitals of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 remains at 6,026.
