THE high daily numbers for Covid-19 in the Winchester district are continuing.
On December 26 104 new cases were reported, but the figure was 57 on December 27 and 56 yesterday. But today 84 new cases have been reported, higher than since the peak of the pandemic in the spring. In the last four days 12 per cent of the total number of cases since last March have been reported.
The district’s number of cases since last March is currently 2,521, with an infection rate of 1,907 per 100,000 people as of Sunday. Today’s infection rate for Winchester was unavailable. The national infection rate is 3,635 per 100,000.
The ‘district’ covers more than just the city and includes a swathe of central Hampshire from Micheldever to Denmead.
In the week between December 22-29 there have been 388 new cases reported in Winchester area, compared to 242 in the week to December 21. Winchester is faring better than Southampton and Eastleigh where the rate has more then doubled over the same period.
Six deaths have been reported in the county council area in the last 24 hours with one in the NHS area that includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. The county council number of deaths is now 1,032.
The hotspot in the southern parishes at Denmead and Southwick is definitely peaking. In the two villages in the seven days to December 24, 82 cases have been reported, a fall on the week before of six, or 6.8 per cent.
The rolling number per 100,000 people is down from 838 to 799, still amongst the worst in the country.
In the adjacent area of Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon there have been 26 cases, up five or 23.8 per cent, for a rolling number of 298, up from 264. These have been the only two areas of the Winchester district where the increases are above the national average. But the latest figure for Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon have slipped below that mark.
In Winchester East, which comprises Winnall, St Giles Hill, Highcliffe and Bar End, there were 17 cases, up 9, for a rolling number of 208, slightly down.
The map below shows the figures for Winchester Central and South which includes, Hyde, the city centre and St Cross.
The numbers are also climbing in Alresford. In the week to December 23 there were 20 cases, up 17, or 566 per cent, showing a sudden spike. The week before, the rolling rate had been 70.9. But for the seven days to December 24 to figure is 22, up 18, or 450 per cent, for a rolling number of 260.0.
Across Winchester district in the seven days to December 24 there have been 322 cases, up 125, or 63.5 per cent, for a rolling number of 257.9, a sharper increase than recently.
The most recent figures from the NHS show there are currently 40 Covid patients at the RHCH compared to 31 last week and 63 at Basingstoke hospital compared to 44 previously.
In the NHS across Hampshire 10 people are reported today to have died. Across the county’s NHS some 895 people have died since March.
In Winchester City Council area the figures for deaths is 104, up one since Christmas Eve. In Portsmouth it is 133 up nine since Christmas Eve, and 142 in Southampton, up three.
The Office for National Statistics reports that 1,032 have died in the Hampshire County Council area, with an increase of 33 since December 24.
So far, at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust there have been 240 deaths, up one since yesterday; 240 people have died at University Hospital Southampton, up two, whilst at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust the toll is now 388, up seven.
More Covid-19 news
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A look at the future. Tier 5 explained
Covid-19 deaths at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since Christmas
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