COVID numbers are declining gently in the Winchester district but with a hotspot in the southern parishes.

The number of Winchester University students with Covid is steadily rising and today was at 20, the highest number in months, with 13 of those on campus before testing positive.

Across the district in the seven days to September 19 there have been 300 cases, down seven on the previous week (two per cent) for a rolling number per 100,000 people of 238.2. This is below the Hampshire average of 257.0.

The current hotspot is Whiteley, Knowle and Wickham with 55 cases reported in the seven days to September 19, up ten, or 22 per cent, for a rolling figure per 100,000 of 468.0. It is the only part of the district shaded in maroon on the Government map.

There have been week on week increases in six other areas: South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever, 13, up four (44 per cent), 219.6; Swanmore, Hambledon and West Meon, 19, up one (6 per cent), 215.9; Denmead and Southwick, 40, up six (18 per cent), 378.2; Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase, 23, up six (35 per cent), 234.7; Winchester West (Weeke and Fulflood), 25, up four (19 per cent), 251.1; Winchester East (Highcliffe and Winnall), 10, up two (25 per cent), 123.3.

Two areas have seen no change: Winchester North and Sparsholt, 17, no change, 173.9; Colden Common and Twyford, 28, no change, 292.0

Covid numbers are falling in five places: Winchester Central and South, 14, down eight (36 per cent), 125.0; Stanmore, 12, down 11 (48 per cent), 173.4; Oliver's Battery and Hursley, 21, down three (12 per cent), 256.6; Alresford, 13, down 10 (43 per cent), 153.2; Springvale and Itchen Abbas, 10, down eight (44 per cent) 145.7.

The number of deaths in the Winchester district since the start of the pandemic is at 180, the 14th day with no change. It had been on 179 since March.

As of Wednesday the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was caring for 31 Covid patients: 23 at Basingstoke, seven at RHCH and one at Andover.