The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has effectively declared an emergency in the capital city, which is now posting a coronavirus infection rate of 1 per cent -- 1,000 per 100,000 -- and has seen hospitals stretched by the number of patients. the Office of national Statistics has put the rate significantly higher, possibly as high as 1 in 30.
Khan declared a “major incident” on Friday, and has asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson for extraordinary powers to close places of worship and make masks mandatory even in crowded spaces outdoors. He is also asking for more financial support for people in self-isolation and unable to work, and for daily updates on the progress of the vaccination programme already underway.
