Coronavirus Alert Issued To Merton Park Residents
Warning as weekly covid cases in local ward reach almost one in 100 people
A coronavirus alert has been issued for Merton Park after an exponential rise in cases in the ward saw the weekly Covid-19 infection rate reach almost one local resident in every 100.
The Merton Park Ward Residents’ Association emailed an alert on New Year’s Eve when the latest figures then available showed the local rate was 830.5 cases per 100,000 in the week up to Christmas Day, with 66 cases in that week. A month earlier they reported only 7 local cases in a week, at a rate of 88.1 per 100,000.
But since that alert, the situation has only worsened with the latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showing there were 79 cases in Merton Park in the week up to December 27, which represented 994.1 per 100,000.
In their warning, the MPWRA pointed out that the infection rate was higher than neighbouring areas and said: “Coronavirus is not something happening somewhere else, to someone else.
“It is happening here and now in Merton Park. Please do everything you can to stop the frightening rate at which it is increasing.
“Remember the official guidance Hands – Face – Space, and make sure your families do too. Let’s all wish for a happier and healthier future together in 2021.”
In the week to Saturday (January 2) the London Borough of Merton had an infection rate per 100,000 of 862.3, which is above the London average of 830.8 and made it the authority with the 27th highest rate in England. The UK average is 398.2.
Despite being less severely hit than some parts of London, there is significant pressure on local health services and St. George’s Hospital has cancelled all non-urgent surgery and routine out-patients appointments.
The latest figures show it admitted 190 Covid patients from December 21-27, which was a 20.3% increase from the previous week.
The statistics also revealed there have been 235 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test in Merton since the pandemic began. Most were in April when the average number of deaths peaked at six each day.
The latest R number for the healthcare region of London is estimated at 1.2 to 1.5 with a daily infection growth rate range of +4% to +8% as of 23 December 2020.
For the purpose of gathering local data the ONS divides the country up into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs). The latest infection rates for MSOAs in the SW19 area are in the table below:
Covid-19 Infections in the week to 27 December 2020
Area (MSOA) |
Cases |
Rate per 100,000 |
Change (%) |
Merton Park |
79 |
994.1 |
33.9 |
Wimbledon Broadway South |
55 |
609.6 |
22 |
Wimbledon Chase |
59 |
712.2 |
63.9 |
South Wimbledon |
77 |
845.2 |
102.6 |
Wimbledon Hill |
52 |
656.7 |
10.6 |
Wimbledon Park & Durnsford Road |
72 |
855.6 |
35.8 |
Cottenham Park |
75 |
935.6 |
87.5 |
Wimbledon Broadway North |
46 |
617.7 |
27.8 |
Wimbledon Common |
40 |
718.1 |
42.9 |
Colliers Wood |
64 |
671.5 |
-4.5 |
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 2, 2021