Covid-19 infection rates have actually fallen in three south east London boroughs, despite Londoners continuing to enjoy their growing outdoor freedoms come rain or shine.

With the lockdown rules slowly being eased, and now three weeks on from the reopening of hospitality venues and shops, scientists have been closely monitoring the number of new virus infections.

And south east London seems to be in good nick ahead of the next stage of the Government's roadmap in just over a weeks time.

Case rates remain encouragingly low, and three out of four main SE London boroughs have actually seen the number of weekly cases fall compared to the week prior.

The latest statistics from Public Health England, released on Wednesday, May 5, show there have been 174 new coronavirus cases across Bexley, Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich in the last week.

PA

PA

The figures, for the seven days to May 1 (the most recent data is still incomplete), are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the last week

And the highest infection rate in the region is Greenwich with just 17.4 cases per 100,000, with 50 new cases reported.

This has fallen from the week prior when the case rate was 18.4.

In Bromley, 51 cases were recorded, bringing the case rate to 15.3, the only recorded rise from 13.5.

Lewisham currently has an infection rate of 13.4, dropping from 16.0 last week, with 41 cases recorded.

The lowest rate belongs to Bexley, the borough which saw infection rates exceeding 1,000 in December.

The borough reported 32 new cases, meaning its infection rate has dropped from 17.3 to 12.9.

Nearby, Dartford's case rate is 15.1, a small drop, and Croydon has fallen from 19.4 to 18.1

Government roadmap - PA

Government roadmap - PA

Of the 315 local areas in England, 108 (34%) have seen a rise in rates, 193 (61%) have seen a fall and 14 are unchanged.

Hyndburn continues to have the highest rate, with 107 new cases in the seven days to May 1 - the equivalent of 132.0 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 61.7 in the seven days to April 24.

Bolton has the second highest rate, up from 47.6 to 82.8, with 238 new cases.

North Lincolnshire has the third highest, up from 66.7 to 72.6, with 125 new cases.

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency based on Public Health England data published on May 5 on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.