Covid increasing again in more areas of Winchester district

Overall the figures are still dropping but today increases were reported in six places with the sharpest increase in Alresford in the seven days to Saturday November 13. That is the first time since October 31 that increases have been reported in six places.

Latest figures out today show that 503 people tested positive for Covid in the seven days to November 13, which is down from 556 the previous week (a nine per cent fall) and 943 before that.

Also, the average case rate per 100,000 people in the district is down from 441 to 399.

Across Hampshire the numbers are rising again for a second day with 6,498 cases in the seven days to November 13, up 865 or 15 per cent, for an average per 100,000 of 467.

The number of people who have died within 28 days of having a positive Covid test since the start of the pandemic remains at 182, for the 16th day. There have only been two Covid deaths in the district since March. Across the area covered by the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, that includes Andover and Basingstoke, the death toll is 469, up from 438 in March. That shows how the NHS has improved its care of Covid patients.

The latest Covid numbers for Alresford, which has seen the steepest increase in the seven days to November 13

In the recorded areas around Winchester, seven of the 14 saw a decrease in Covid cases, six saw an increase and one had no change. Covid is still falling steeply in some places with Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon seeing a fall of more than 50 per cent.

The six areas which reported rising cases are: Winchester West (Fulflood and Weeke) 36 cases, up four (12 per cent) for 361 per 100,000; Winchester North and Sparsholt 54 cases, up seven (15 per cent), 552; Oliver's Battery and Hursley 41 cases, up six (17 per cent), 501; Alresford 23, up seven (44 per cent), 271; South Wonston Sutton Scotney and Micheldever 29, up one (4 per cent), 489; Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase 39, up six (18 per cent), 398.

Although Alresford saw the sharpest rise its rolling number of 271 per 100,000 is amongst the lowest in the district.

The seven areas which continue to see falls are: Winchester Central/South 27 cases, down three (10 per cent), 241 per 100,000; Stanmore 18, down six (25 per cent), 260; Colden Common and Twyford 33, down 12 (27 per cent), 344; Springvale and Itchen Abbas 27, down seven (21 per cent), 393; Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon 25, down 30 (54 per cent), 284; Whiteley Knowle and Wickham 74, down eight (10 per cent), 629; Denmead and Southwick 37, down 18 (33 per cent), 349.

There was no change in Winchester East (Winnall, St Giles Hill, Highcliffe and Bar End) 40 cases, 493 per 100,000.

A total of 14,843 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid in Winchester when the UK coronavirus daily dashboard was updated today, up 69 from 14,774 yesterday.

The latest figures show in Winchester district 79.2 per cent of those aged 12 and over have had both jabs, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service database. Nationally 80.1 per cent have had both. Nationally 88.1 per cent have had one dose, compared to 86.9 per cent locally. It was unclear why Winchester lags behind.

On Monday there were 48 Covid patients in hospitals run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 37 in Basingstoke, 10 at the RHCH in Winchester and one in Andover.

Tuesday last week there were 43 positive Covid-19 patients: 29 at Basingstoke, 14 at the RHCH and none at Andover. That compares to 52 the previous week: 32 in Basingstoke, 20 at the RHCH.

Linked to Winchester University there are 10 current cases of Covid-19 and two of them had been on campus before testing positive. Since September, 103 cases have completed their self-isolation and recovered. Between September 2020 and last August, 243 cases recovered.