London has taken its first step towards a local lockdown after a borough asked people not to visit other households. With every part of the capital now an "area of concern" on the government watchlist, residents in Tower Hamlets, east London, have been advised to avoid visiting other households by the local council.
In an open letter, the borough's mayor John Biggs asked people to avoid visiting other households "unless absolutely necessary" due to a rise in coronavirus cases.
Tower Hamlets' rate for the seven days to September 28 was 44.0 cases per 100,000 people, up from 38.5 the previous week. Mr Biggs called the situation a "matter of life and death" and said urgent action was required, adding that the borough had one of the highest