AS the Omicron variant has confirmed cases in Hampshire, covid cases are on the rise in Winchester.

This comes after an outbreak in Winchester Prison, which is in the Winchester West area, the highest case rate in the district.

Winchester University has 37 reported cases with nine people having been on campus. The university falls within three areas: Winchester West; Winchester Stanmore; and Winchester Central and South.

In Hampshire, since the start of the pandemic, there have been 190,249 covid cases, with Winchester having 16,586. In Winchester, this is an increase of 114, since the last figures were released.

There haven't been any covid-related deaths in Winchester for 15 days, with a total of 183 since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

The breakdown of the covid cases in the 14 Winchester areas, in the seven days up to November 30, are as follows.

The highest rate of cases is in Winchester West with 96 cases, up 24 (33 per cent) with 964 per 100,000.

Second is South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever with 51 cases, up 20 (64 per cent) with 861 per 100,000.

Third is Winchester East with 57 cases, down two (three per cent) with 702 per 100,000.

Fourth: Winchester North and Sparsholt, 66, up six (10 per cent), 675.

Fifth: Springvale and Itchen Abbas, 43, up seven (19 per cent), 626.

Sixth: Colden Common and Twyford, 58 up 16 (38 per cent), 604.

Seventh: Wickham, Knowle and Whiteley, 70, down four (five per cent), 595.

Eight: Swanmore, West Meon and Hambledon, 46, up six (15 per cent) 522.

The others are: Bishop’s Waltham and Waltham Chase, 51, up four (seven per cent), 520; Denmead and Southwick, 55, up one (two per cent), 520; Winchester Central and South, 58, up four (seven per cent), 518; Alresford, 36, up one (three per cent), 424; Winchester Stanmore, 22, up six (37 per cent), 317; Oliver’s Battery and Hursley, 26, up three (13 per cent), 317.