THE city of Winchester is virtually Covid-free for the first time in many months

The last place in the city with more than two cases was Winchester West, the area that includes Fulflood and Weeke, but that has changed.

The latest information relating to Covid-19 was updated this afternoon and reports only three cases in two other parts of the district: Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham and Denmead and Southwick with just three cases each in the seven days to April 9, the most recent day for which localised figures are available.

Twelve other areas have reported fewer than three cases in those seven days and are now marked white on the Government map, see below:

All these areas have at worst fewer than two cases of Covid

All these areas have at worst fewer than two cases of Covid

The areas marked white are: Winchester West, Winchester East, Winchester North and Sparsholt, Winchester Central and South, Stanmore, Oliver's Battery and Hursley, Springvale and Itchen Abbas, Alresford, South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever; Colden Common and Twyford, Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon, and Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase.

It is not possible to say how many new cases have been reported in Hampshire and Winchester district in the last week as recent figures have been adjusted downwards in recent days. The reason is unclear.

But the recent steady decline in Winchester has stalled compared to other places. The Press Association national news agency reported that figures to April 11 show 116 local authority areas out of 315 in the UK with a better record than Winchester, a sharp increase from 27 on April 3.

OIn the week to April 9 there were 16 cases reported, down two, a drop of 11 per cent for a rolling number per 100,000 of 12.8. A month ago the figures were 37, up three for a rolling 29.6 per 100,000.

No deaths have been reported by the NHS in Hampshire this week. The death roll in Winchester district of 183 has been the same for 43 days.

The number of Covid deaths in the three hospitals of the Hampshire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust (RHCH, Basingstoke and Andover) remains at 438, with no deaths for 2 days.

There are only nine Covid patients in Basingstoke hospital, three at RHCH and none in Andover, one down on last week (13).

No Winchester schools are affected by Covid with the last two, Micheldever and Winnall primaries, now reported clear for both children and staff.

However there are currently two cases linked to the university, according to its website this afternoon.