Rates of coronavirus continue to rise in south east London, with 185 new cases recorded over the last week.

Across the UK there were 3,991 confirmed cases of coronavirus today - the highest daily figure for new cases since May 8.

Local figures show a rise in the rate of infections in the seven days leading up to September 13, particularly in Greenwich.

The figures are based on tests that have been carried out both in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as number of new cases per 100,000 population, based on the latest Public Health England figures updated last night.

Data for the most recent three days (September 14-16) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Public Health England has also disclosed the number of individual new cases discovered over the period.

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Greenwich saw a substantial rise from 12.2 cases per 100,000 the previous week to 18.1. This amounted to 57 individual cases in total across the borough.

A similar trend was observed in Bexley, which saw a rise from 10.5 cases per 100,000 to 12.9 per 100,000, a total of 32 individual cases.

Lewisham showed a slight decrease, with 17.7 new cases per 100,000, compared to 18.3 the week before. This amounted to 54 new cases.

Bromley also saw a decrease, from 16.5 per 100,000 to 14.1. There were 32 new individual cases.

Boris Johnson today defended the troubled Covid-19 testing system amid mounting fears of a fresh coronavirus crisis in care homes.

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The Prime Minister faced MPs as the Government was drawing up a list setting out who will be at the front of the queue for coronavirus tests after a "colossal spike" in demand.

Care home staff and residents are likely to be near the top of the list as Mr Johnson acknowledged ministers were concerned about the rate of infection.

He said a new "action plan" this week would involve tougher rules on the movement of workers between care homes.

Mr Johnson was faced by Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner at Prime Minister's Questions, after Sir Keir Starmer was forced to wait more than 24 hours for the result of a coronavirus test on a family member.