The latest case rates have been released for every local authority area in England and in most of them, infections are falling.

Nationally, 308 out of the 377 local areas in England (82 per cent) have seen a fall in cases, and 65 (17 per cent) have seen a rise.

Four are unchanged.

In south east London, there are still some boroughs which are seeing an increase in Covid cases.

These figures are accurate for the seven days to November 5 – with most recent days excluded for accuracy.

They are compared with a week prior – the seven days to October 29.

The figures 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.

Bexley

In Bexley, the Covid rate has fallen from 297.2 (741 cases) to 286.8 (715 cases).

Bromley

In Bromley, the rate is 235.0 (782 cases) after having dropped from 293.9 (978 cases).

Greenwich

In Greenwich the rate has also fallen, and now sits at 204.5 (591 cases), from 231.5 (669 cases) the week before.

Lewisham

Lewisham is one of the only south east London borough to have seen a rise in cases – from 196.5 (600 cases) to 207.7 (634 cases).

Southwark

The other is Southwark – where case rates have risen from 174.1 (557 cases) to 183.1 (586 cases).

Dartford

Nearby in Dartford, the case rate has dropped significantly from 508.5 (580 cases) to 406.0 (463 cases).

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency using data published on November 9 on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

It comes as the first anti-viral pill for Covid-19 that can be taken at home has been approved for use in the UK.

Molnupiravir is for people who have had a positive Covid test and have at least one risk factor for developing severe illness, such as obesity, being over the age of 60, diabetes or heart disease.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the drug is safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospital admission and death in people with mild to moderate Covid who are at extra risk from the virus.

The drug, from Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), works by interfering with the virus’s replication.

It prevents the virus from multiplying, keeping levels low in the body and therefore reducing the severity of the disease.

The MHRA said the drug should be taken as soon as possible following a positive Covid-19 test and within the first five days.

The Government announced last month that it had secured 480,000 courses of molnupiravir after a study found it cut the rate of hospital admission and death by 50% in mild-to-moderately ill patients who had at least one risk factor for the disease.

In the study, the tablet was given twice a day to patients recently diagnosed with coronavirus.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an anti-viral that can be taken at home for Covid-19.

“This will be a gamechanger for the most vulnerable and the immunosuppressed, who will soon be able to receive the ground-breaking treatment.

“We are working at pace across the Government and with the NHS to set out plans to deploy molnupiravir to patients through a national study as soon as possible

“This antiviral will be an excellent addition to our armoury against Covid-19, and it remains vital everyone comes forward for their life-saving Covid-19 vaccine – particularly those eligible for a booster – to ensure as many people as possible are protected over the coming months.”

Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: “Following a rigorous review of the data by our expert scientists and clinicians, we are satisfied that Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is safe and effective for those at risk of developing severe Covid-19 disease and have granted its approval.

“Lagevrio is another therapeutic to add to our armoury against Covid-19.

“It is also the world’s first approved anti-viral for this disease that can be taken by mouth rather than administered intravenously.

“This is important, because it means it can be administered outside of a hospital setting, before Covid-19 has progressed to a severe stage.

“With no compromises on quality, safety and effectiveness, the public can trust that the MHRA has conducted a robust and thorough assessment of the data.”

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