With a week having passed since the most recent easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the rate of new cases is continuing to rise in the majority of southeast London boroughs.

The latest lockdown restrictions ease allowed for indoor hospitality venues and pubs to finally reopen to serve customers inside.

With Covid symptoms taking up to two weeks to develop, the next week will be a crucial test for whether lockdown restrictions can fully ease in June.

It comes amid stark warnings from scientists regarding the recent spread of the Covid variant B.1.617.2, first identified in India.

The latest figures, for the seven days to May 21, are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

Data for the most recent four days (May 22-25) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

The infection rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Read more: Indian Covid variant cases found in every SE London borough

Bromley recorded the biggest increase in its rate of infection compared to its surrounding boroughs, recording a significant spike from a rate of 14.4 cases per 100,000 people to 22.9 - equating to 76 new cases, up from 48 cases the previous week.

 

But Greenwich recorded the highest infection rate in southeast London, recording a moderate rise in cases, with its rate of infection increasing from 26.0 cases per 100,000 people to 28.5, with 82 new cases, compared to 75 in the dataset from the previous week.

Bexley also recorded a moderate rise in cases, with the latest data putting the infection rate at 16.1 (40 new cases), up from 13.3 (33 new cases) in the preceding week.

In north Kent, Dartford’s infection rate nearly doubled, though because overall transmission remains low, this does not amount to a major rise in cases. The latest data shows an infection rate of 12.4 (14 new cases), up from 7.1 (8 new cases) previously.

Previous figures: Covid infection rates for SE London ahead of lockdown ease

Lewisham's infection rate is currently the lowest in southeast London, seeing a decrease in its infection rate from the previous week.

The infection rate in Lewisham is currently recorded at 11.4 (35 new cases), down from 19.3 (59 new cases) in the previous week.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on May 25 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 134 (43%) have seen a rise in rates, 167 (53%) have seen a fall and 14 are unchanged.