THE coronavirus picture across the Winchester district has changed dramatically in the just two weeks.

The Government’s interactive map paints a bleak picture of how Winchester ended 2020 and entered 2021, with the Covid outbreak worsening.

A huge surge in cases has been blamed on a new coronavirus strain, which resulted in the Government putting the country back into lockdown on Monday – which is set to last until the middle of February.

Almost every area of Winchester has seen their infection rates shoot up over the two-week period.

The only area which saw its infection rate drop was Denmead and Southwick but the number of cases recorded still remain high – 88 in the week ending January 3.

Based on Public Health England figures, the interactive tool on the Government's coronavirus dashboard breaks down positive coronavirus cases by Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs), areas with an average population of 7,200.

For each area, the map shows the number of cases reported in a weekly period, the seven-day rolling rate of new cases and any changes.

Areas with the highest rates are highlighted in purple and blue, those with the lowest rates are shown in shades of green and yellow.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Map highlighting infection rates in the Winchester district in the seven days up to December 20

The number of cases and the infection rate per 100,000 people for the seven days up to January 3, and the week ending December 20, in brackets and bold, in all areas of the Winchester district are as follows:

Denmead and Southwick: 88, 858 per 100,000 (100, 975)

Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham: 61, 521 per 100,000 (21, 179.4)

Winchester Central and South: 47, 427.4 per 100,000 (11, 100)

Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase: 46, 475.5 per 100,000 (16, 165.4)

Oliver’s Batter and Hursley: 44, 538.2 per 100,000 (7, 85.6)

South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever: 38, 646.5 per 100,000 (3, 51)

Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon: 38, 436.4 per 100,000 (21, 241.2)

Winchester East: per 34, 417.4 per 100,000 (17, 208.7)

Winchester Stanmore: 33, 486.6 per 100,000 (6, 88.5)

Alresford: 33, 390 per 100,000 (4, 47.3)

Colden Common and Twyford: 33, 346.4 per 100,000 (14, 147)

Winchester West: 32, 321.1 per 100,000 (12, 120.4)

Winchester North and Sparsholt: 30, 309.1 per 100,000 (6, 61.8)

Springvale and Itchen Abbas: 30, 436.3 per 100,000 (13, 189.1)

However, given this map is based on data from the previous week, it does not take into account the latest infections, while the infections shown are based on home address.