The number of new cases of Covid-19 rose in Kingston according to the latest data published by Public Health England (PHE) setting it apart from every other London borough.

Despite drops or plateaus in the numbers of new cases of coronavirus in London boroughs in the most recent week of data, there were more new cases in Kingston than in the previous week.

The PHE figures showed that there were 89 new cases of Covid-19 in Kingston in the seven days up to March 6.

That represented a rise of 20 from the previous week's figure of 69, or an uptick of 29 per cent from the preceding seven day period.

Kingston's 'rolling rate' of new infections per 100,000 people stood at 50.1, slightly higher than the national average. 

Neighbouring boroughs meanwhile reported drops in the numbers of new cases, as was the case for almost all other London boroughs. 

In Richmond, for example, there were 67 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in the week up to March 6, a drop of 27 or -28.7 per cent. 

The data pointed to difficulties with easing the UK's national lockdown even as the vaccination programme races ahead.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty for example told MPs the UK could expect a "surge" in the virus as restrictions are eased.

"As things are opening up... at some point we will get a surge in (the) virus," he said.

"We hope it doesn't happen soon but it might happen for example later in the summer if we open up gradually."

The first stage in the easing of the national lockdown was reached on Monday this week (March 8) when schools reopened.

Medical journal The Lancet published a report on March 10 suggesting that "Without additional mitigations, increases in transmission are likely, this time with more infectious and possibly more virulent variants, resulting in further lockdowns, school closures, and absenteeism."

The Government said a further 181 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday (March 11), bringing the UK total to 125,168.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 147,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The Government also said that, as of 9am on Thursday, there had been a further 6,753 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.

It brings the total to 4,241,677.