The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that he is standing down the ‘major incident’ status in London, but has warned the city will remain on high alert due to the significant threat Covid-19 and the Omicron variant still poses in the capital.
The Mayor took the decision on 18 December to declare a ‘major incident’ due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant across the capital, a significant rise in patients in London hospitals and the impact this was having on staff absences in frontline services.
The decision was regularly reviewed by City Hall and leaders from NHS London, local authorities, public health officials and the emergency services in the capital. Following the gradual improvement in the number of cases in the capital, the pressures on critical services delivery reducing to manageable levels and a significant improvement in staff absences, the Mayor – as the formal Chair of the London Resilience Forum – has today taken the decision to stand down the ‘major incident’.
However, Sadiq has warned that the capital remains on high alert and that the standing down of the major incident and existing Plan B measures is not the end of our fight against the virus.
While the number of cases has reduced, there remain 3,059 COVID-19 patients in London hospitals and 191 in mechanical ventilation beds. NHS services in London are also still working at full stretch and dealing with their toughest winter on record, while ensuring they are available for patients with other conditions.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Our NHS and emergency services have gone above and beyond during an extremely testing period for our city. Everyone who wore a mask, took a lateral flow test or followed the advice to work from home where possible, has played their part in reducing the pressure they faced and enabled us to stand down the ‘major incident’ in London today.
“But the virus and the Omicron variant is still with us and daily infection rates are still too high. That’s why we must all remain vigilant and continue to do the things that have allowed our city to reopen safely. Wearing a face covering remains one of the single most important and easiest things we can all do to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and that’s why I’m renewing my calls for the Government to rethink their plans and keep legislation in place to make them mandatory on public transport. They still have a huge role to play in keeping our city open and our friends, family and communities protected.
“Covid-19 continues to pose a significant threat and our hospitals remain under pressure. That's why it’s crucial that Londoners test regularly and report their results, come forward for vaccinations, and continue to wear a face covering when travelling on TfL services, where it remains a condition of carriage.”
Councillor Georgia Gould, Chair of London Councils, said: “London’s communities have shown their amazing resilience and compassion throughout the latest Omicron wave of Covid. People have been coming forward for their first, second and booster jabs, wearing face masks and testing regularly, playing their part in keeping London safe and protecting the NHS and local services.
“The Mayor’s decision today shows how far we have come in London in just a few weeks. But it’s not over yet. Case rates remain high, NHS and social care are still busy with Covid and winter pressures and there are Londoners that have not had all of their vaccinations.
“Boroughs will be working with the Mayor and other London partners to ensure we continue to bring Covid rates and hospitalisations down and working to support our communities.”