Winchester sees fastest-rising Covid rates in the UK

Figures released this afternoon reveal the district today has now recorded the steepest rise of all 377 local authority areas. There are now only 22 areas with worst overall figures.

The average rate per 100,000 people has soared from 377.2 to 635.3 in the last seven days, according tot the Press Association national news agency which is monitoring the figures every day. Gosport in Hampshire was third highest with figures of 409.8 to 650.7.

But while the number of cases is rising fast there has only been one death from Covid-19 in the Winchester district since March, indicating that most people contracting the disease are young and in general good health.

In the seven days to October 10 there were 737 cases, up 265 on the previous seven days, or 56 per cent, for a rolling figure per 100,000 of 585.3, now far above the Hampshire average of 463.9.

The numbers are rising in all 14 places in the district, the first time this has happened this year. Cases have doubled in Alresford and Winchester East.

Oliver’s Battery and Hursley has seen the sharpest increase and its number per 100,000 people is now 1,087.5, the highest number since at least January. The figures for Colden Common and Twyford, are 813.3 per 100,000 people and Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase with 846.9 per 100,000. The three are are now marked black on the Government map, the highest, or worst, designation.

Three areas now marked in black

In eight areas the latest figures are for more than 400 cases per 100,000 people making them maroon on the Government map. The eight 400+ hotspots are: Winchester West; Winchester North and Sparsholt; Stanmore; Alresford; Springvale and Itchen Abbas; South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever; Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon; and Denmead and Southwick.

The latest figures are from the seven days to Sunday October 10, the most recent day for which localised figures are available.

The worst-affected areas, marked in black:

Oliver’s Battery and Hursley: 89 cases, up 34 (62 per cent), 1,087.5;

Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase: 83 cases, up 36 (77 per cent) 846.9;

Colden Common and Twyford: 78 cases, up 19 (32 per cent) 813.3;

Marked in maroon are:

Winchester West (Weeke and Fulflood): 79 cases, up 37 (88 per cent) 793.7;

Alresford: 58, up 31 (115 per cent) 683.7;

Swanmore Hambledon and West Meon: 53 cases, up 18 (51 per cent) 602.1;

Winchester North and Sparsholt: 33, up 13 (61 per cent) 593.5;

Denmead and Southwick: 52, up 13 (33 per cent) 491.6;

Springvale and Itchen Abbas: 33, up 13 (65 per cent) 480.8;

South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever: 27, up 4 (17 per cent) 456.1;

Stanmore: 29, up 5 (21 per cent) 419.1;

Winchester East (Winnall, St Giles Hill, Highcliffe and Bar End): 32, up 17 (113 per cent) 394.6;

Whiteley Knowle and Wickham: 34 cases, up 5 (17 per cent) 289.3;

Winchester Central and South: 32, up 11 (52 per cent), 285.5.

Hampshire numbers

The number of deaths in the Winchester district since the start of the pandemic is still at 180, the 35th day with no change. It had been on 179 since March, meaning there has only been one death in seven months.

In total there have been 11,300 Covid cases in the Winchester district since the start of the pandemic with 157 reported today. That is a rate per 100,000 people of 8,973, compared to the Hampshire figures of 134,123 and 9,654. Some 1,059 cases have been reported today countywide.

Nationally today 145 deaths have been reported.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reported 31 patients on Monday with Covid: 19 in Basingstoke, 10 at the RHCH and two in Andover War Memorial Hospital.

The number of Winchester University students with Covid is back up to 17 from a recent low of six, and close to the highest recent figure of 20, which was the highest number in months. Six of the 18 cases have been on campus which has seen an influx of freshers. There have been 42 people who have recovered since September. Since September 2020 there have been 243 cases at the university.

Since the start of this term schools no longer have to report cases to Hampshire County Council so those figures are no longer available publicly.