Covid cases in the Winchester district increased this week after a slight decline last week.

In the 14 areas surrounding Winchester cases are up in eight and down in six.

In the seven days up to January 7, there were 1,646 reported Covid cases at a rate of 1,307 per 100,000 people. In the seven days to December 30 there were 1,572 cases, with 1,248 per 100,000.

The number of Omicron cases, according to the latest government figures released on December 23, is 782 in Winchester.

Hampshire Hospitals Trust was caring for 25 Covid patients in hospital as of January 4, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid by 8am on January 4 was down from 41 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid decreased by 48 per cent in the last four weeks.

Across England there were 15,044 people in hospital with Covid as of January 4, with 797 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid patients hospitalised nationally has more than doubled in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by one per cent.

The figures also show that 60 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the week to January 2. This was up from 32 in the previous seven days.

The area with the highest Covid cases rate for the seven days to January 1 is Springvale and Itchen Abbas with 115 cases, down four (three per cent) with 1,675 per 100,000 people.

Second is Denmead and Southwick with 169 cases, up 26 (18 per cent), 1,598.

Third is Bishop’s Waltham and Waltham Chase with 146 cases, up 25 (21 per cent), 1,490.

Fourth is Winchester West with 147 cases, down five (three per cent), 1,477.

Fifth is Winchester East with 110 cases, up eight (eight per cent), 1,356.5.

Sixth is Swanmore, West Meon and Hambledon with 118 cases, up 30 (34 per cent), 1,341.

Seventh is Colden Common and Twyford with 127 cases, up three (two per cent), 1,324.

Eighth is Winchester North and Sparsholt with 126 cases, up 13 (11.5 per cent), 1,289.

The others are: South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever: 75 cases, up four (six per cent), 1,267; Stanmore: 85 cases, down 19 (18 per cent), 1,228; Wickham, Knowle and Whiteley: 142 cases, up 41 (41 per cent), 1,208; Alresford: 90 cases, down six (six per cent), 1,061; Winchester Central and South: 116 cases, down 49, (30 per cent), 1,036 and Oliver’s Battery and Hursley: 80 cases, down 23 (22 per cent), 977.5.

The government dashboard shows 187 people had died in the area by January 7, up from 186 on the previous day.

It means there has been one death in the past week, which is a decrease on two the previous week.

They were among 19,269 deaths recorded across the South East.

The figures include anyone who died within 28 days of a positive test result for Covid, and whose usual residence was in Winchester.

Covid was the reason behind more than two in five NHS staff absences at Hampshire Hospitals Trust as the new year began, figures show.