OVERALL Covid-19 rates are still going in the right direction across the Winchester district. But one area is bucking the trend. In parts of Winchester the decline has reversed. In Winchester East, which covers part of the city centre, Winnall, Highcliffe and Bar End, the rolling seven-day total has risen from 282 on Sunday to 392 today, and has doubled in a week, up from 196 last Thursday. Its rate is now close to the England average. In Winchester East in the seven days to January 16 there were 32 new cases, up 15, an increase of 88 per cent. The reason for the recent spike is unclear.
A NEW Covid-19 vaccination centre is launching in Basingstoke in the next few weeks to enable more people to have the vaccine in the area. Basingstoke Fire Station will be used as a new hub alongside Hampshire Court Hotel, which has been in use since December 16. A new hospital hub is also due to launch soon at Andover War Memorial Hospital, joining Basingstoke hospital which is already a live hub vaccinating staff and patients. They will join the network of local vaccination centres and hospital hubs already in operation in the region. Initially, vaccinations will be offered to people in line with recommendations from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), with the NHS contacting people when it is their turn.
MORE than 1,300 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Hampshire in a 24-hour period. Latest data on the government website shows a total of 1,358 people were reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus up to 4pm today. There were 65 cases in Winchester district bringing the number since the start of the pandemic to 2,920. Other districts - Southampton: 234 (7,030); New Forest: 87 (3,012); Eastleigh: 80 (2,828); Fareham: 71 (2,674); Portsmouth: 183 (7,956); Test Valley: 64 (2,606); Gosport: 53 (1,893); Havant: 133 (3,961); Hart: 83 (2,288); East Hampshire: 64 (2,713); Rushmoor: 178 (3,852); Basingstoke and Deane: 63 (4,162). A further 10 Covid-19 deaths have been reported by the NHS in Hampshire, bringing the total to 33 in three days. At Hampshire Hospitals Trust, which includes the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, there have been a further two deaths, meaning a total of 246 since the start of the pandemic. At Southampton Hospital t