Covid-19 infection rates have continued to climb across south London over the last recorded week ahead of ‘freedom day’.

Boris Johnson has promised to tear up England’s coronavirus regulations tomorrow, despite going into isolation himself today.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak had originally planned to take daily tests rather than self-isolate following meetings last week with Health Secretary Sajid Javid who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Wandsworth Times:

Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), has warned that infections will “almost certainly” reach 100,000 daily cases, with the potential for double that figure.

The figures, for the seven days to July 12, 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.

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

Data for the most recent four days (July 13-16) has been excluded as it is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 290 (92%) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates and 25 (8%) have seen a fall.

Sutton, 319.8, (660), 224.9, (464)

In Croydon, 1130 new coronavirus cases were reported, giving it an infection rate of 292.2, up from 200.9 last week.

And Wandsworth has also seen a sharp increase in cases, with its Covid-19 rate rising from 336.1 to 425.6 with 1403 new cases.

In Merton the infection rate currently stands at 271.6, up from 214, with a total of 561 new cases recorded.

Sutton has seen an increase in cases, with its Covid-19 rate rising from 224.9 to 319.8 with 660 new cases.

Richmond upon Thames currently has a Covid-19 rate of 301.5, up from 214.1 last week, after 597 cases were recorded.

Mr Johnson has repeatedly said he wants the lifting of lockdown to be “irreversible”, but in recent days ministers have begun to sound more cautious.

While social-distancing rules in England will come to an end, Government guidelines advise face masks should still be worn in enclosed spaces such as in shops and on public transport, while pubs and bars should be table service only.

Meanwhile the Government is facing calls from business to overhaul the NHS Covid app amid growing alarm at the numbers of staff missing work after being “pinged” and told to self-isolate.

The London Underground became the latest to succumb with the Metropolitan line forced to close on Saturday due to a shortage of control room staff.