ANOTHER 27 people are reported to have died of Covid-19 in the Hampshire County Council area today.
It brings to 1,212 the death toll since the start of the pandemic.
Seven deaths have been reported at Hampshire Hospitals Trust, which includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, meaning a total of 260 have died since the start of the pandemic.
In the Winchester City Council district three people are reported to have died to bring fatalities to 111, or 88.9 per 100,000 people. In Southampton the figure is 166, up three, or 65.7 per 100,000. In Portsmouth the figure is 165, up five, for 76.8 per 100,000.
The plateau in cases in Winchester district continued for a second day. Yesterday for the first time since December 13, the number of cases reported in the previous seven days was lower than in the previous week.
Today there were 73 cases, taking to 557 the number in the last seven days. The previous seven days had seen 554 cases, only three different.
The number of cases in the Winchester district since the start of the pandemic is now 3,331, an infection rate of 2,667 per 100,000, below the UK average of 4,547.
The Press Association national news agency is also collating figures, from Public Health England statistics. In the week to last Sunday, January 3, there were 585 cases in Winchester district for a rolling rate per 100,000 of 468.5, now slightly below the UK average, compared to the previous seven days figures of 394 and a rolling 315.6. That is an increase of 193 or 49 per cent.
Cases of the contagious new strain are slowing in the hotspot of Oliver's Battery and Hursley, according to Government figures released this afternoon.
In the seven days to January 3, the latest available, 44 cases were reported, up 18 on the previous seven days, an increase of 69 per cent. The rolling number per 100,000 people is climbing to 538.2, still above the UK average but declining.
Another area with a sharp rise, however, is South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever. In the seven days to January 3, 38 cases were reported, up 24 on the previous seven days, an increase of 171 per cent. The rolling number per 100,000 people is climbing to 646.5, well above the UK average.
The worst-affected place in the district remains Denmead and Southwick where there have been 88 new cases, up 4, or just 4.8 per cent, with a rolling number of 858.0, but dropping. Yesterday the rolling number had been 916.5.
The Winchester ‘district’ covers more than just the 'city' and covers Hampshire from Micheldever to Denmead, and Crawley to Ropley.
Nationally, 1,325 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported, one of the highest figures since the start of the pandemic.
In the area covered by Hampshire County Council there were 1,228 positive test results in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 38,680. The seven-day numbers to January 3 are 7,825, up 3,134 or 66.8 per cent, for a rolling 566.5.
A further 16 Covid-19 deaths have been reported by the NHS in Hampshire the latest statistics released today at 2pm. There have been double digit increases for the last four days. Portsmouth has been badly affected with 67 deaths reported already in 2021.
The Hampshire Hospitals Trust death toll is now 260, up seven. At Southampton Hospital the figure is 264, up one. Portsmouth Hospitals Trust recorded a further seven to take its total to 473. Southern Health Trust is now 26 deaths, up one, with the figure for the Solent NHS Trust staying at four.
Across the county’s NHS, the five trusts mentioned above, some 1,027 people have died since March, within 28 days of a positive test.
In Winchester City Council area the figure for deaths is 111, up three. In Portsmouth it is 165, up five, and 166 in Southampton, up three.
The Office for National Statistics reports 1,212 have died in the Hampshire County Council area, with an increase of 27 reported today, up from 1,185.
The most recent figures from the NHS, released on Monday, show there are currently 57 Covid patients at the RHCH compared to 44 last week and 105 at Basingstoke hospital compared to 78 previously.
Experts estimate the new strain of Covid is 50 per cent more transmissable, explaining the sharp increase in cases in recent weeks.
Other Covid news:
New vaccine centres across Hampshire
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