London will be moved to a 'Tier 2' lockdown at midnight on Friday (October 16), MPs in the city have been told.

The move is expected to be announced in the House of Commons later today (Thursday, October 15) and comes as the latest data from the capital showed a surge in the number of new Covid cases and associated deaths.

Following the government's introduction of a '3-Tier' system of coronavirus restrictions for England, London was placed at the third and least-severe set of restrictions, dubbed 'medium' or Tier 3.

That meant the 'rule-of-six' and other moderate restrictions on people's movements were in place, but these are now expected to be heightened in an effort to control increasing cases and deaths from Covid-19 in the city.

Wandsworth Times: Screenshot of South London coronavirus rates via Public Health EnglandScreenshot of South London coronavirus rates via Public Health England

According to the government's own instructions, London moving into the 'High' or Tier 2 category at midnight on Friday would mean:

  • you must not socialise with anybody outside of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
  • you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other spaces like beaches or parks (other than where specific exemptions apply in law)
  • businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
  • certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
  • businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
  • schools, universities and places of worship remain open
  • weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
  • exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability sport

Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly in South London, with the South West most seriously impacted according to the latest government data on Covid case numbers up October 14.

By borough, the latest figures for South London are:

Bexley has 1,674 confirmed cases of the virus with an infection rate of 674.2 per 100,000 people.

Bromley: 2,302 confirmed cases, infection rate of 692.7.

Croydon: 2,854 confirmed cases, infection rate of of 738.

Greenwich: 1,684 confirmed cases, infection rate of 584.8

Kingston: 1,295 confirmed cases, infection rate of 729.5.

Lambeth: 2,495 confirmed cases, infection rate of 765.3.

Lewisham: 2,041 confirmed cases, infection rate of 667.3

Merton: 1,437 confirmed cases, infection rate of 695.7.

Richmond: 1,343 confirmed cases, infection rate of 678.2.

Sutton: 1,453 confirmed cases, infection rate of 704.1

Wandsworth: 2,347 confirmed cases, infection rate of 711.9.