Several boroughs in south west London have seen sharp increases in the number of new Covid infections confirmed in recent days, the latest data from Public Health England (PHE) has shown.

The number of new infections in the seven days up to June 18 rose in Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth and Sutton, but notably fell in Kingston where surge testing and vaccinations were introduced earlier this month.

The measures were brought in to combat the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the virus that is now dominant in the UK.

According to the new PHE data, there were 217 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Merton in the week up to June 18, an increase of 60, or +40 per cent, from the previous week's figure.

That meant the borough reported a 'rolling rate' of new infections per 100,000 people of 105.1, higher than the UK-wide average 97.5.

Richmond experienced a similar rise in the number of new cases reported in the seven days up to June 18.

The data showed there were 159 new cases in Richmond during that time, up 49 (+44.5 per cent) for an infection rate of 80.3.

Cases also continue to rise in Wandsworth according to the PHE data, with 406 new infections up to June 18, a rise of 29 or +7.7 per cent, with the infection rate at 123.2.

In Sutton, there were 124 new cases of Covid-19, up 29 (+30.5 per cent). The infection rate was 60.1.

Two boroughs in south west London meanwhile reported slight falls in new infections.

One of those was Kingston, which previously recorded London's highest infection rate but has since seen new case numbers stabilise and fall slightly after the introduction of mass 'surge' testing for everyone over 11 years' old, plus walk-in vaccinations. 

Kingston reported 128 new Covid infections up to June 18, PHE revealed, down seven or minus 5.2 per cent from the previous week, while it's infection rate was 72.1.

Croydon also experienced a small drop in the number of new Covid cases, with 265 new infections over the time period equating to a fall of 7.0 per cent on the previous figure and an infection rate of 68.5.