London local lockdowns? Council leaders play down speculation as some hospitals see Covid-19 cases rise

Council leaders today played down speculation about local lockdowns after some London hospitals reported a worrying rising in Coronavirus cases.NHS trusts in almost half of London's boroughs have reported a small increase in the weekly infection rate, according Public Health England figures.Hammersmith & Fulham saw 11 more hospital patients being treated last week compared with the previous week.In Ealing, the number of patients was up from five to 14. Hospitals in Westminster treated eight more Covid-19 sufferers.The trend will be closely monitored but Ealing Council dismissed suggestions of a local lockdown.

Fifteen of London's 32 boroughs saw an increase:

• Barking & Dagenham

• Brent

• Ealing

• Enfield

• Hammersmith & Fulham

• Haringey

• Harrow

• Havering

• Hounslow

• Kensington & Chelsea

• Redbridge

• Richmond

• Tower Hamlets

• Wandsworth

• Westminster

• 'Build, build, build': Johnson hopes £5bn 'New Deal' will kickstart post-virus economy

• Robert Peston: Why these are the critical days for Boris Johnson's government