THE Covid-19 numbers are worsening in the Winchester district hotspot of Denmead and Southwick.
It comes as six more deaths have been reported today in the Hampshire County Council area with one in the area that includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.
The southern parishes of Denmead and Southwick, close to tier 4 Portsmouth, are seeing their numbers rocket upwards.
In the two villages in the seven days to Tuesday 88 cases have been reported, an increase on the week before of 70, a rise of 388 per cent. The rolling number per 100,000 people would be 858, 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 eight cases, down one, for a rolling number of 98.2.
In Alresford, where numbers were climbing so sharply last month that Perins secondary school closed, there have been just 4 cases, up two for a rolling rate of 47.2.
The concern is that the infection will spread up the Meon Valley from Denmead towards the small towns of Wickham and Bishop's Waltham.
The daily increase in Winchester district was 44 on Tuesday, again the highest number since November 14. The 'district' covers more than just the city and covers a swathe of central Hampshire from Micheldever to Denmead.
The worsening situation can be seen by the fact that in the last seven days to today there have been 242 cases in Winchester district, compared to 87 in the week previously.
In total there have been 2,133 cases since the start of the pandemic, up from 2,089, giving an infection rate of 1,708.3 since March. The national rate is currently 3,206.6.
In the seven days to last Tuesday, December 17, the Press Association national news agency reports there were 196 cases in Winchester City Council area, compared to 67 in the previous seven days.
Out of the 300+local authority areas Winchester is worse 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.
There are currently 31 Covid patients at the RHCH compared to 30 last week and 44 at Basingstoke hospital compared to 45 previously.
In the NHS across Hampshire 10 people are reported to have died today, with one in the HHFT area that includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Across the county’s NHS some 839 people have died since March.
In Winchester City Council area the figures for deaths is 102, no change. In Portsmouth it is 122, up four, and 139 in Southampton, up one.
The Office for National Statistics reports that 972 have died in the Hampshire County Council area, with an increase of six today.
So far, at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust there have been 233 deaths, up one; 234 people have died at University Hospital Southampton, up one, whilst at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust the toll is now 345, up seven.
Other Covid news:
New vaccination hubs opens today near Winchester
The differences between Tier 3 and Tier 4 rules
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