Covid-19: Health app exposes which London boroughs are refusing to stay at home

Data from an app measuring people’s behaviour during the coronavirus crisis has exposed Enfield as the worst London borough for flouting the government’s stay at home rule.

As of 4th April, around 20.7 per cent of survey respondents in Enfield have admitted to not staying indoors making it the second-worst area in the country after 25 per cent in Middlesbrough said they were flouting the rule.

Joining Enfield as the most rebellious London boroughs, 11.5 per cent in Barking and Dagenham and 10 per cent in Hillingdon said they weren’t staying indoors. Whereas Wandsworth is one of the best areas in the country for obeying the rule with 97.9% of respondents saying they were staying at home.

The app developed by Evergreen Life shares the data with the NHS and data scientists to help analyse the progress of the pandemic. More than 25,000 users responded to the survey.

Andrew Boff AM commented on the data: “It’s disappointing to see a large group of Londoners in some boroughs flouting the government’s order to stay at home. We need everyone to follow the government’s instructions to stop the spread of coronavirus and save lives.

“I understand that the lockdown is frustrating and we have all had to drastically change our lives in response to this pandemic, but the more Londoners who flout the rules, the longer the lockdown will last.

“This virus can infect anyone, no one is immune, and no one is invincible. The rules are in place to protect you and everyone else. By carrying on as normal, you are not only risking your own health, but your families, and anyone you come into contact with.

“I would like to thank the millions of Londoners who are doing the right thing and staying at home. While a large group in some boroughs are flouting the rules, this app has shown that far more are doing the right thing.”

London boroughs ranked by percentage not staying home

1) Enfield - 20.7% (second worst in the country)

2) Barking and Dagenham - 11.5%

3) Hillingdon - 10%

4) Newham - 9.8%

5) Hounslow - 9.4%

6) Redbridge - 9.3%

7) Waltham Forest - 9.1%

8) Westminster - 8.3%

9) Islington - 8.3%

10) Sutton - 6.3%

11) Barnet - 6.2%

12) Haringey - 5.9%

13) Tower Hamlets - 5.3%

14) Kensington and Chelsea - 5%

15) Hammersmith and Fulham - 4.9%

16) Havering - 4.6% 17) Greenwich - 4.5%

18) Ealing - 4.5%

19) Croydon - 4.5%

20) Lewisham - 4%

21) Lambeth - 3.8% 22) Harrow - 3.8%

23) Bexley - 3.8%

24) Brent - 3.7%

25) Southwark - 3.6%

26) Bromley - 3.3%

27) Merton - 2.9%

28) Richmond upon Thames - 2.8%

29) Kingston upon Thames - 2.7%

30) Wandsworth - 2.1%

No data for Camden and Hackney. Information correct as of 4 April, to find full results visit Covid-19 Heat Map dashboard.