Covid cases rise in three areas of Winchester district

Across the Winchester district cases are again rising, in three areas - Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase, Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham and Oliver's Battery and Hursley.

In Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase there were three cases in the previous week, up one; Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham saw five cases, up one; and Oliver's Battery and Hursley saw three cases, up one. Although the numbers are very low, this is the first time since April 20 that there have been rises in three areas.

Rise in cases in three areas of Winchester district. Highlighted is Oliver's Battery and Hursley. The other two areas are Bishop's waltham and Waltham Chase and Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham

Across the district in the week to June 2 there were 20 cases, up ten on the previous seven days, a doubling albeit from a very low base.

Winchester district as a whole has rolling rate of 16.0 per 100,000, below the national average, but up from 9.6 the week before.

It is not known how many are of the Indian variant, first reported in the Winchester district when a case was found connected with St Bede primary school last month.

But no Covid deaths have been reported in the Winchester district for 97 days, as of this afternoon. Nationally only one death was reported.

In the Hampshire Hospitals area that includes the hospitals in Winchester, Basingstoke and Andover there have been no reported deaths for 45 days.

As of today, the Hampshire Hospitals Trust were caring for four coronavirus patients in hospital, three in BAsingstoke and one at the RHCH.

No Winchester schools are affected and only four in Hampshire with three in the north-east of the county.

On Friday there were 115 better performing local authority areas out of 315 in the UK. At times last month Winchester was 13th.

The final stage of the Government’s road map is fast approaching, but doubt is beginning to be cast over June 21.

Some scientists have said that the final easing of social restrictions in England should be delayed, others have said that the cost to society will be too great if it is.

New data shows that Hampshire pupils missed among the least face-to-face teaching in the autumn term after having to self-isolate or shield due to Covid-19, figures reveal.

Pupils across Hampshire missed the equivalent of 433,540 days of in-person education between September and December for this reason, Department for Education figures show.

That was an absence rate of 3.9 per cent – among the lowest in England – and equivalent to roughly three days per pupil.

On vaccinations, data shows that a total of 81,811 people have had their first dose in Winchester district and 55,784 have had both, as of today June 7.

Tomorrow will mark six months since the launch of the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.

More than 1.87m Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered locally to date and strong progress continues to be made, with 95% of people aged 40 and over across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight having received their first dose.

Adults aged between 25 and 29 will start to receive text messages inviting them to book an appointment to receive their Covid-19 vaccination from tomorrow morning.

Anyone in the age groups now eligible for a vaccine is asked to book their jab once they receive the text message alert.

Those who have already received their first vaccine are urged to get their second dose to ensure they are as protected as possible against the virus.

Dr Nigel Watson, clinical lead for the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: “Six months on from the launch of the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS, we’re delighted that more than 1.87m Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We continue to make strong progress and remain on track to have offered every adult in our area a first dose of the vaccine by the end of July. Thank you to all of our colleagues, partners and volunteers whose outstanding continued efforts in delivering the vaccination programme locally are helping to save lives.

“I strongly encourage anyone eligible who has not yet made an appointment to do so as soon as possible. Getting the vaccine helps protect yourself, your loved ones and our communities against Covid-19. The first dose of the vaccines offer good levels of protection, but to get maximum protection everyone will need a second dose.”

When invited, people will be able to book to receive the Covid-19 vaccine via the National Booking Service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119.

Text invitations, which do not expire, appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment.

People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.

People aged 39 and under who are eligible and pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in line with updated JCVI guidance.