This week has been full of new restrictions and case increases as we have seen parts of the UK go into lockdown.

To help you understand the local picture in Andover we have put together a summary of all the coronavirus news over the last five days.

Cases

There have been three new coronavirus cases reported in the test Valley area this week.

There was one new case reported on Monday, September 14, a second new case confirmed on Thursday, September 17 and a third was recorded on Friday September 18.

The Hampshire Hospital trust has confirmed there are currently no patients in Andover hospital with coronavirus.

Deaths

The first coronavirus death in ​over nine weeks was recorded at Hampshire Hospitals Trust.

NHS England figures showed 162 people had died in hospital at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (September 16).

An increase of one compared to the 161 that had been recorded at the same point on Tuesday, and the first death in 79 days.

It is not known if this death occurred at Basingstoke, Winchester or Andover hospital.

New restrictions

The rule of six came into force on Monday, September 14, which made it illegal to meet up with more than six people indoors or outdoors.

If you are caught breaking these new restrictions, you face fines of up to £3,200.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Martin Hewitt denied that enforcement of the rule of six relies on people “grassing up” their neighbours.

But the policing minister and MP for North West Hampshire Kit Malthouse encouraged neighbours to ring the nonemergency police phone number to report breaches.

This week he said: “It is open to neighbours to do exactly that through the non-emergency number, and if they are concerned and they do see that kind of thing, then absolutely they should think about it.”

However Hampshire Constabulary later on in the week released a statement that said they will only fine breaches of the rule of six 'as a last resort'.

Assistant Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said: Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to engage, explain and encourage people to comply with the regulations, and this will continue. 

"We will use common sense and discretion to determine what is reasonable.

"As a last resort, we will enforce, whether it’s by directing people to leave an area, or issuing a fine. We have found that the majority of breaches reported to us can be resolved without having to issue a fine.”