FOR the third day the number of positive tests in the Winchester district has been more than 30.

There were 38 positive tests reported today compared to 35 yesterday and 32 the day before. Two weeks ago the number was four. The last time the number was over 30 was November 15.

In the last seven days to today there have been 157 cases in Winchester district, compared to 63 in the week previously.

There have been 1,992 cases since the start of the pandemic, up from 1,954, giving an infection rate of 1,595.4 since March.

In the seven days to last Sunday, December 13, the most recently available, the Press Association national news agency reports there were 100 cases locally, compared to 60 in the previous seven days.

The rate per 100,000 people in the seven days to December 13 in the Winchester district was 80.1. In the worst-affected areas such as Havant and Portsmouth, both of which have dropped into the tier 3 of the tighest controls, the number is over 200 by 100,000.

Winchester is in the bottom 25 for infection rates out of more than 300 local authorities across the UK, as are New Forest, Test Valley and Eastleigh.

The latest a is that there are currently 30 Covid patients at the RHCH compared to 39 at the start of the month. There are 45 at Basingstoke hospital compared to 69 previously.

For clarity ‘Winchester district’ comprises more than the built-up city and is the council area which stretches from Micheldever in the north to Southwick in the south, from Sparsholt in the west to Bramdean in the east.

In the NHS across Hampshire seven people are reported to have died today, with two in the HHFT area that includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Across the county's NHS some 812 people have died since March.

In Winchester City Council area the figures for deaths is 102, no change. In Portsmouth it is 112, up one, and 137 in Southampton, up one.

The Office for National Statistics reports that 953 have died in the Hampshire County Council area, with an increase of five today.

So far, at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust there have been 230 deaths, up two; 230 people have died at University Hospital Southampton, up one, whilst at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust the toll is now 326, up four.

Other Covid-19 news:

Covid marshals introduced in Winchester district

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Vaccination programme gets underway in Winchester

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