Post Desk : The surge in Covid-19 cases in London has hit the wealthiest boroughs, official figures reveal today.

The rise in cases first started in more deprived areas of east London.

But now Richmond upon Thames has the highest infection rate in the capital, at 112.1 new cases per 100,000 people in the week to October 5.

Cases have shot up to 222 from 89 in the previous week.

The jump has seen it overtake Redbridge which now has the second highest rate at 108.8, with the number of cases rising to 332, from 240.

In Kensington and Chelsea, the rate has hit 82 after the number of cases more than tripled from 41 to 128.

In Kingston-upon-Thames, the rate rose to 72.7 after cases increased from 69 to 129, in Westminster it reached 68.5, with cases jumping to 179 from 92, with a similar picture in Bromley which has a rate of 56 after a rise to 186 from 96.

Thirty out of 32 boroughs areas have seen an increase in cases as the epidemic spreads across the city.

London’s public health chief Professor Kevin Fenton, of Public Health England, urged Londoners to “do your bit” to stem the rise in cases and avoid further restrictions.

He tweeted: “Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in London. We must take action now and do everything we can to slow the spread. Follow our #TopSixTips and do your bit.”

Several boroughs saw more than 300 new Covid cases in the week to October 5 including Redbridge, Hackney and City of London (most of the cases are in Hackney not the Square Mile), Ealing and Barnet.

Two boroughs, Barking and Dagenham, and Havering, have seen a fall in cases.