Coronavirus: Sadiq Khan declares a major incident in London

This afternoon the Mayor of London announces a major incident because the threat this virus poses to our city is at crisis point.

One in 30 Londoners now has COVID-19. If we do not take immediate action now, our NHS could be overwhelmed and more people will die.

More than 7,000 Covid patients pack our London hospitals.

A New “Kent Strain” is hospitalising 19 to 30-year-olds. 

10,000 Londoners tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday.

He said the London Ambulance Service was currently taking up to 8,000 emergency calls a day, compared to 5,500 on a typical busy day.

“Londoners continue to make huge sacrifices and I am today imploring them to please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave. Stay at home to protect yourself, your family, friends and other Londoners and to protect our NHS.”

BREAKING: I have declared a major incident in London because the threat this virus poses to our city is at crisis point.

One in 30 Londoners now has COVID-19. If we do not take immediate action now, our NHS could be overwhelmed and more people will die.https://t.co/OjV7SZ4BgQ — Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 8, 2021

Vaccines Rollout

A third Covid vaccine ‘Moderna’ has been approved for use in the UK was already approved by EU regulators. The RNA vaccine like Pfizer’s, injects part of the virus’s genetic code into the body.

The UK has ordered an extra 10 million doses of this vaccine, taking the total order to 17 million, but supplies are not expected to arrive until spring. 

Nadhim Zahawi, vaccine deployment minister, said: “The NHS is pulling out all the stops to vaccinate those most at risk as quickly as possible, with over 1,000 vaccination sites live across the UK by the end of the week to provide easy access to everyone, regardless of where they live.