ONLY two Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the Hampshire County Council area today compared to 11 over the weekend.
Covid numbers are continuing to worsen across the Winchester district with a new hotspot emerging in the southern parishes of Denmead and Southwick, close to Portsmouth.
In those two villages in the last seven days 82 cases have been reported, an increase on the week before of 68, a rise of 485 per cent. The rolling number per 100,000 people would be 799.5, amongst the worst in the country.
In Winchester city itself the numbers are edging up. In Winchester East, which comprises Winnall, St Giles Hill, Highcliffe and Bar End, there were seven cases, down four, for a rolling number of 85.9.
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.
The daily increase in Winchester district was 43, the highest number since November 14.
The worsening situation can be seen by the fact that in the last seven days to today there have been 211 cases in Winchester district, compared to 84 in the week previously.
In total there have been 2,089 cases since the start of the pandemic, up from 2,046, giving an infection rate of 1,673.1 since March.
In the seven days to last Tuesday, December 17, the Press Association national news agency reports there were 194 cases locally, compared to 67 in the previous seven days.
Out of the 300+local authority areas Winchester is worst off than around 85. Last week for a few days there were only ten better, showing the steady rise in Winchester, probably caused by the proximity of the Winchester district to the badly-affected areas of Portsmouth and Havant.
The rate per 100,000 people in the seven days to December 17 in the Winchester district was 155.4. In the worst-affected areas such as Rushmoor, Havant and Portsmouth the figure is well over 300.
The latest information is that there are currently 31 Covid patients at the RHCH compared to 30 last week. There are 44 at Basingstoke hospital compared to 45 previously.
In the NHS across Hampshire two people are reported to have died today, with none in the HHFT area that includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Across the county's NHS some 829 people have died since March.
In Winchester City Council area the figures for deaths is 102, no change. In Portsmouth it is 118, up one, and 138 in Southampton, no change.
The Office for National Statistics reports that 966 have died in the Hampshire County Council area, with an increase of two today.
So far, at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust there have been 232 deaths, no change; 233 people have died at University Hospital Southampton, no change, whilst at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust the toll is now 338, up two.
Other Covid news:
Police say they will tackle 'blatant' breaches of the Covid rules over Christmas
The new Covid variant
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here