CORONAVIRUS is a mixed picture across the Winchester district – with one area proving to be a stubborn hotspot.

South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever has a case-to-person ratio far higher than the national average.

In the seven days to March 20, 11 cases were reported. This is a 37.5 per cent increase when compared the seven days to March 13.

Coronavirus map. Image: Gov.uk

Coronavirus map. Image: Gov.uk

Across the same time period, Oliver's Battery and Hursley has seen a 100 per cent rise in cases – with a total of four reported.

Cases in Denmead and Southwick are also rapidly rising. Nine cases were reported in the seven days to March 20 – a 200 per cent increase in new cases.

Last week the Chronicle reported that Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham was emerging as a hotspot.

This week the areas have shown signs of healing with the number of new cases reducing by 62.5 per cent.

A further two cases have been reported in Springvale and Itchen Abbas: a 66.7 per cent rise.

But all other areas have reported three or fewer cases, meaning lockdown is working in most parts of the district.

These areas are: Winchester North and Sparsholt; New Alresford; Winchester Central and East; Winchester Stanmore; Winchester West; Colden Common and Twyford; Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase; Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon.

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Vaccinated people should be allowed to visit one another and there is no real science stopping this from happening, an expert has said.

The UK is in a much better place than hoped, and consideration should now be given to the mental health of people and the needs of the elderly, said Professor Tim Spector.

Prof Spector, who leads the Covid Symptom Tracker app study which is run by King’s College London, suggested there is also no scientific rationale to stop vaccinated people from travelling.

He told the PA news agency: “I think we’re actually in a much better place than many people are telling us, and I, for one, I’m not worried too much about what’s happening abroad.

“I think we need to start talking about when people who have been vaccinated can start seeing other vaccinated people.

“And there’s no real science now stopping, for example, me seeing my vaccinated mother in a care home or, you know, wherever they live.

“So I think we need to start moving to this next area and realise that our plan is working, and that we were doing well.”

Asked if this would mean bringing forward such meetings ahead of the road map out of lockdown, Prof Spector said: “If we’re being led by the science, that’s what we’d be led by.

“But we’re not, we’re being led by politics, and I can see the arguments for not splitting the country into two.

“At the same time, given the mental state of many people, and the needs of elderly people, I think that ought to be equally considered.”