London records no COVID deaths for first time since September

There were no COVID-19 deaths reported in London on Sunday – for the first time since 14 September, according to official figures.

Public Health England data for 28 March showed zero deaths were registered from patients within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in London.

At the height of the crisis in April 2020, the number of daily deaths linked to COVID-19 was around 230.

Last week, the total number of fatalities with COVID on the death certificate in the English capital was 14, down from 24 deaths in the previous week.

“Zero deaths in London is a great step, but that is all it is, a step. We need to continue with our vaccine programme,” one doctor told Sky News.

A London-based junior doctor while welcoming the news, also urged caution.

They told Sky News: “We cannot falsely reassure ourselves its over, we have been in this situation before last autumn and rates and deaths increased again in the winter. The vaccine is preventing admission and its having a positive knock on effect.”

London was the epicentre of the first wave last year and accounts for 12% of all deaths in the UK.

A total of 15,413 people have died there after contracting COVID-19. Only the South East and North West have higher death figures.

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Since the start of the pandemic, 708,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in London and there have been 18,000 deaths in the city’s hospitals with the virus listed on the death certificate.

The latest figures will come as positive news for Londoners after some areas were subject to surge testing earlier this month after the emergence of the South African variant.

The additional testing was being carried out in Camberwell and Harrow, with people living in Battersea, Roehampton and Putney also urged to get tested.

PHE figures for England as a whole on 28 March reported 23 people who tested positive for coronavirus had died.

This brings the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 86,176, NHS England said.

Patients were aged between 15 and 91 and all except one had known underlying health conditions, although NHS England was unable to provide information about the age of that patient.

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The number of COVID-related deaths has gradually decreased in recent weeks, with almost 30 million people across the UK given the first dose of the vaccines so far.

People are also starting to enjoy the easing of restrictions as the government continues with its roadmap that was announced last month.

From today, outdoor gatherings of six people or two households is allowed, recreational sports can start again and the “stay at home” messaging ends.

Further restrictions will be eased on 12 April, with retail stores reopening and pubs allowed to open outdoors.

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