West Ealing and Hanwell Hardest Hit by Omicron

Wide range of infection rates across Ealing borough

Hospitalisations due to Covid have increased sharply recently

The latest data for Covid-19 infection rates show that West Ealing, Northfields and Hanwell currently have the highest prevalence of the virus. Rates in these areas are well above the average for the borough, London and England as a whole.

The level of positive tests is highest in Hanwell where 178 people have caught the disease in the seven days up to Christmas Eve, giving an infection rate of 2,488.1 per 100,000 people an increase of 45.9% on the previous week. The area designated as Brent Valley by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has the second highest rate at 2,487.1 and Elthorne Park, South Ealing, Northfields, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway East and Drayton Green & Cleveland all have infection rates of above 2,000 which means that 2% of the population in those neighbourhoods has tested positive in just seven days.

Generally the Southall area currently has the lowest infection rates with cases running at half the level of other parts of the borough.

During December the infection rate doubled many times over but the rate of increase seems to have slowed over the last two days for which data is available. However, data on hospitalisations is showing a sharp increase.

It is believed that the high infection rates being reported were partly due to the large number of people taking tests in advance of Christmas when an increased level of intergenerational mixing was taking place. However, health experts say this is not overstating the prevalence of the disease but rather is revealing the significant number of asymptomatic cases that would have otherwise have been undiagnosed.

Testing levels have fallen during the Christmas holidays and are likely to remain at a reduced level into the new year because of the lack of availability of test kits. Both PCR and lateral flow tests have become difficult to acquire both through the government’s web site and at local pharmacies.

A pharmacist in the area said, “We are expected deliveries in the next few days but demand is high so we may continue to run out of stock. The only thing to do is pop in regularly. It’s like at the supermarket – if you turn up at the right time you’ll get what you need.”

The borough of Ealing has a relatively low infection rate compared to other local authority areas in London at 1,763 per 100,000. This compares to rates of 2,680 in Lambeth and 2,507 in Southwark.

The average infection rate for London in the week to 24 December is 1,986 per 100,000 with 178,827 new cases in seven days. This compares with 146,856 cases and a rate of 1631 for the previous week.

Source: Office of National Statistics

In England as a whole, 711,470 new cases were identified in the most recent week of data, a rate of 1258 cases per 100,000 population. This compares with 491,482 cases and a rate of 869 for the previous week.

Hospitalisations are rising sharply with the number of people in London hospitals being treated for Covid-19 at 3,310 on 29 December compared to 2,036 the week before.

On 29 December 2there were 229 Covid-19 patients in mechanical ventilation beds in London hospitals. This compares with 198 patients a week earlier.

Deaths from Covid-19 are on the rise with 36 people reported to have died in London on Monday (27 December) after testing positive. Monday does tend to have a higher number of reports because it includes deaths that took place at the weekend. This Wednesday (29 December) 9 people died in London after testing positive.

Up to and including 6,292,452 people in London had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 5,704,288 had received two doses and 3,460,494 people had received either a third vaccine dose or a booster dose. The advice from the government remains that you should get vaccinated or receive your booster as soon as possible.

December 30, 2021