A spike in the seven-day coronavirus infection rate in Barnet has seen it climb to nearly 200 new cases per 100,000 people.

The borough’s infection rate jumped by 40 per cent to 192.3 new cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to November 13 – one week after the start of a strict, England-wide lockdown.

It comes after only a slight increase of 3.9 per cent during the previous seven-day period and a fall in the rate the week before that.

For England as a whole, the Covid-19 infection rate was 273.8 cases per 100,000 people during the seven days to November 13.

The data is based on figures from Public Health England published on the Government’s online coronavirus dashboard. It is subject to slight variations, as the figures are continually revised.

Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in Barnet (Source: Public Health England)

Colindale recorded the highest number of new cases – 46 in the seven days to November 12, according to the latest information published on a Government map of ‘middle layer super output areas’.

Meanwhile, Temple Fortune (36 cases), Hendon Central (34 cases) and Edgware East (32 cases) all saw case numbers climb above 30. Other areas with high case numbers included High Barnet and Hadley (28) and Edgware Park (27).

Barnet’s director of public health, Dr Tamara Djuretic, said she thought cases had risen because people in the borough, as with the rest of the country, relaxed their perception of risk a few days before the national restrictions. 

Dr Djuretic added: “We have observed a decrease over the last few days. The advice remains to follow the national restrictions closely. Stay home apart from essential trips out and do not gather with those outside of your household indoors.  

“Remember, hands, face and space: wash your hands, cover your face and keep two metres apart from people you don’t live with when outside.”

According to Barnet Council, cases of Covid-19 are increasing in men and women and in most age groups, although they are rising more slowly in older age groups compared to the working-age population.

The Government plans to end the current national lockdown on December 2 and reintroduce a system of tiered, local lockdowns.

Before November 5, London was in a tier 2 lockdown for two weeks, which saw separate households banned from mixing indoors but non-essential businesses allowed to remain open.

The latest figures come as trials showed two vaccines were effective in stopping people from getting the virus.

On Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the UK had ordered five million vaccines made by US biotech firm Moderna, which early data suggests is up to 95 per cent effective. This would be enough for 2.5 million people.

The vaccine is expected to become available in the spring, if it is approved by the medicines regulator.