FINANCIAL TIMES: London is most vulnerable to coronavirus outbreak in the UK

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Graham Lord, dean of the faculty of biology, medicine and health at Manchester university, said London was worst hit now because “it is a global city”. “You have had lots of people flying in and out for many weeks,” bringing the virus. He said heavy use of public transport was a factor but there was not enough evidence yet of a link between population density and speed of spread. The rest of the country would also suffer but was a few weeks behind. “We need to use this time to prepare,” Prof Lord said. London does have advantages, though. It is a young city: just 8 per cent are over 70, the most vulnerable age group to the virus., while in England as a whole it is 14 per cent. The capital’s population is also healthier than average, less likely to have conditions such as heart disease and respiratory problems that are a factor in many deaths, Prof Lord said.