London coronavirus cases by borough

But a further 228 deaths were announced for the capital on Wednesday, taking the total so far to 12,905.

Hospitals remain under huge pressure, though, the number of coronavirus patients has decreased.

But hopes of bringing the virus to bay in London are rising as the figures show a fall of 19,260 confirmed cases in the week to January 22.

There were also 4,076 new cases announced on Wednesday, after two days below 4,000, compared to figures around three times as high some days earlier this month.

The disease is more on the retreat in east London than parts of the west of the city.

Islington saw the biggest drop of 40.7 per cent, followed by Tower Hamlets 40.2 per cent, Southwark 38.3 per cent, Lambeth 36.5 per cent, Enfield 36.3 per cent, and Kensington and Chelsea 35.5 per cent.

Hackney and the City of London had a drop of 35.3 per cent, Newham 34.7 per cent, Havering 34.1 per cent, Wandsworth 34.1 per cent, Croydon 32.9 per cent, Lewisham 32.7 per cent, and Barking and Dagenham 32.5 per cent.

The four smallest declines are all in west London, with Kingston down 14.8 per cent, Hillingdon 20.5 per cent, Harrow 20.8 per cent, and Ealing 22.8 per cent.

Despite the fall in confirmed cases, the overall disease levels in London are still high, with experts expecting the epidemic to be harder to drive down than in the first wave given the new variant which spreads more quickly.

London coronavirus cases by borough

Data sourced from Public Health England, accurate as of 4.30pm on Wednesday 27th January

Coronavirus rates in London per borough

Professor Paul Elliott, director of Imperial College London’s React study, this morning explained why coronavirus rates appear to be decreasing in some areas.

On findings from the most recent study, he told Times Radio: “We are seeing different trends.

"The trends in London, the South East, and particularly the South West, do appear to be going down.

“Whereas, in the rest of the country, it’s pretty flat, and actually in East Midlands it’s going up a little bit.”

Asked why he thought this was happening, Prof Elliot said: “I think it’s difficult to know.

“Certainly compared to the first lockdown, we know from mobility data that there is more activity happening generally, more people are going to work, the rules around the schools are slightly different to last time.

“But also, you know, it really behoves us all to pay attention to the public health message.

“We know how the virus is transmitted through social contact, so the social distancing, face coverings and hand washing are extremely important.”