Though rates as a whole may be climbing across the country, Test Valley has seen a slight fall in recorded Covid cases over the past week.

The new figures showed that there had been 11 new cases across the borough from September 11 to September 18, a rate of 8.7 new cases per 100,000. This compares with 16 cases from September 4 to September 11, with a rate of 12.7.

The figures are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

Data for the most recent three days (September 19-21) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

While the fall in cases may seem reassuring, it is unsure why this is the case. As previously reported by the Advertiser, residents in Test Valley have been unable to get tested for the virus recently, due to a lack of testing capacity in labs.

This may mean that cases are going unrecorded, and so are not included in these figures.

The latest figures come after Boris Johnson is set to address the nation at 20:00 tonight to outline the new restrictions that will be imposed to try and curtail the spread of the virus.

This includes a curfew on pub opening hours, with pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues needing to shut at 22:00, while there will be no in-person ordering at the bar, with table service becoming mandatory.