Covid-19 appears to be in retreat as infection rates continue to fall across south east London.

And crucially, the latest data from the capital has shown the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals has dropped for the second day running.

The number of London patients who've tested positive for Covid-19 was at 1,157 on Monday, and as of Wednesday running to 1,042.

At the peak of the second wave there nearly 8,000 Covid patients in London hospitals. The number of new patients admitted on Monday, July 2 was also 93, the lowest in five days.

At Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, 61 patients are reportedly in hospital with Covid-19, with eight on ventilation. Both stats represent a fall compared to the average over the past week.

This Is Local London: The Government's Covid-19 dashboardThe Government's Covid-19 dashboard

And case rates have continued to fall for every south east London borough.

Wednesday's update from the Covid-19 dashboard showed more promising figures suggesting the third wave has peaked.

The figures, for the seven days to July 31, are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

This Is Local London: Covid vaccinations continue across the country - PACovid vaccinations continue across the country - PA

Lewisham has the highest rate in the region with an infection rate of 279.2, but this is down from 355.1 after 854 new cases were reported.

Greenwich has also recorded a similar fall in infections with a case rate of 275.1.

This is down from 341.7 after 792 new cases.

In Bexley, the case rate is currently at 260.6, dropping substantially from 402.8 last week (647 cases).

Bromley has a slightly lower case rate with 248.5, down from 375.5 with 826 cases.

Nearby, Dartford recorded a rate of 278.0 (313 cases) and Croydon reported 259.1 (1002 cases).

But NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard warned that more than a fifth of Covid-19 patients currently in hospital were aged between 18 and 34, many of whom are likely unvaccinated.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 30 (10%) have seen a week-on-week rise in rates and 285 (90%) have seen a fall.

Lincoln continues to have the highest rate, with 744 new cases in the seven days to July 31 - the equivalent of 749.3 per 100,000 people.

The outbreak in Lincoln has been linked to a nightclub with a surging rate in a district full of bars, clubs and restaurants.

Exeter has the second highest rate, up from 366.8 to 559.3, with 735 new cases.

Hull has the third highest rate, up from 515.1 to 525.4, with 1,365 new cases.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on August 4 on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.

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