After weeks of “sky high” coronavirus numbers in Merton cases are finally falling – but the council’s public health boss has warned against celebrating too soon.

Although the “scary numbers” seem to be behind us, Dr Dagmar Zeuner urged caution as we  wait to see the result of restrictions lifting on July 19.

But speaking at a Merton Council meeting on Tuesday (July 27) she said she is cautiously optimistic to see cases falling in the borough day by day.

Dr Zeuner said: “[Cases were] really sky high, these were quite scary numbers but since then, on all consecutive days cases are falling we are having less than 100 cases per day.

“This is a picture that is mirrored across the country and London and people are genuinely puzzled.

“So I would say let’s be cautious as opening up has only just happened on the 19th but seven consecutive days of numbers dramatically dropping gives me some optimism.”

For the seven days up to July 22 the case rate stood at 369 cases per 100,000 people this is down from 439 per 100,000 in the seven days up to July 18.

And yesterday (Tuesday, July 27) just 53 people in the borough tested positive for Covid-19 according to the latest government figures The health boss went on to say that there are a few potential explanations including schools breaking up for the summer holidays and better weather meaning more people are meeting outside rather than inside.

She added: “The staggeringly high infection rates that we have seen has left immunity behind, so it might be that we really have peaked.

“But there is caution in the system, some people said has the testing gone down? And though testing has dropped a bit, it is not enough to explain why we see less infections.”

Dr Zeuner said that overall she has a “mini smile” on her face at the latest figures.

But the high rates over the past few weeks has led to an increase in people ending up in hospital with the virus.

Across London there are 1,001 in hospital, 179 of these coronavirus patients are on ventilation.

In the Epsom and St Helier Trust, which runs St Helier Hospital in Carshalton and Epsom Hospital there are 21 coronavirus patients being looked after, including one on ventilation.