Coronavirus: Sadiq Khan 'very cautious' about lockdown easing

London mayor urges government to get contact-tracing programme up and running before lifting any more restrictions

The London mayor Sadiq Khan has said he remains “very cautious” about easing more lockdown measures, despite declining coronavirus deaths and infection rates in the capital.

Mr Khan said the government had to make sure an effective contact tracing system was in place before any more restrictions could be lifted.

At least six NHS trusts in London have reported no deaths from the Covid-19 in hospitals over the last 48 hours, according to Professor Carl Heneghan at the University of Oxford.

Mr Khan welcomed the “good news” – but said it was vital to begin widespread contact tracing so outbreaks could be isolated and a “catastrophic” second wave of infections could be avoided.

“I’m still very cautious, the virus is still out there,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “We’ve got a small window now to be testing everyone that has got symptoms, to be tracing everyone they have been in contact with over the last few days.”

“Because my fear is that this good news could lead to complacency, which could lead to a second wave that would overwhelm the NHS and be really bad for people’s lives, but also their livelihoods.”

Mr Khan was challenged on both the Today programme and on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on why he had re-introduced the congestion charge, penalising key workers who need to drive into the capital to work.

The mayor claimed one of the conditions for the government’s recent emergency funding package for Transport for London (TfL) was that the congestion charge be re-imposed and increased.

Mr Khan said he did not want “a car-led recovery”, but added that it was crucial demand for public transport also remained “as low as possible”.

He said: “I urge all Londoners to do their bit to keep our transport workers safe by only using public transport if you have no other alternative.”

His comments came as TfL commissioned a new study to examine the deaths of dozens of bus workers who were exposed to coronavirus – research the mayor has described as “deeply personal”.

The two-part study will see TfL work with University College London (UCL) to “better understand the pattern of coronavirus infections and deaths among London’s bus workers”.

Mr Khan said the study would ensure every possible measure was taken to protect “our heroic staff” following the deaths of 29 bus drivers. “As the son of a bus driver, this is deeply personal to me,” the mayor added.

UCL Institute of Health Equity director Professor Sir Michael Marmot said it was “absolutely critical” that more was understood about the high level of coronavirus infections and deaths among bus drivers in the capital.

“They are among our key frontline workers who are keeping society functioning during this Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.