For the first time since September, London has seen no new deaths caused by COVID-19.
It’s a milestone we are happy to report: On Sunday, March 28, London recorded zero new COVID-19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the first time in six months, according to data published by Public Health England (PHE).
Last year’s figures show 120 coronavirus deaths in London on March 28, 2020, with the number almost doubling just one and a half weeks later, to 231 deaths on April 8, 2020. In total, 15,413 Londoners have died within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, and 18,708 have COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate. Meanwhile, the UK as a whole is also showing some slightly improved numbers, with 19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test reported on Sunday, March 28, compared to 112 deaths just five days earlier.
While the six-month milestone is great news, it shouldn’t be taken as an all-clear. With vaccines underway, the lockdown easing and weather improving, it remains important to practice caution and to adhere to safety measures in a continued effort to further slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
As a London-based junior doctor told Sky News, the improved numbers could be misleading: “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.”