It has been a week full of new coronavirus developments in Basingstoke with new restrictions and threatened school closures.

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

Cases

This week there has been one new recorded cases of coronavirus in the Basingstoke and Deane area, which was recorded on Tuesday.

Additionally, Robert May's School on West Street, Odiham confirmed on Friday afternoon a member of their community had tested positive for corona virus.

Hampshire Hospitals confirmed there are no patients currently in the 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.

Tests

Basingstoke residents have struggled to secure coronavirus tests this week our readers shared their experience with us on social media.

Out of the 76 people who shared their experience with us just two had managed to get a local test with ease.

Some of our readers had been waiting almost 2 weeks and had still had no luck in securing a Covid test whilst one reader managed to book a slot for her son within six hours.

Maria Miller raised these testing concerns to the Department of Health Ministers who confirmed that there has been a significant increase in demand for tests with 1,798 tests given to residents in the Basingstoke and Deane Borough in the past week.

She added that Hampshire Hospitals Trust undertook an additional 1, 615 tests amongst staff and patients.

Local outbreaks

Robert May's School remained open to staff and students after one of its members tested positive for coronavirus on Friday afternoon.

Joanna Collyer West, head teacher, said: "We can confirm that an individual has tested positive for Covid-19. 

“Two other members of staff were required to self-isolate and the school remains open for all year groups.

“We have followed public health England instructions with regard to contacts and deep-cleaning. 

“Staff have been fully briefed and parents, carers and trustees have been informed."

Three members of staff from Maidenhead Inn pub in Basingstoke are currently self-isolating at home with coronavirus symptoms.

Wetherspoon said on Thursday (September 17): “We understand that one of the employees has had a test and is awaiting the results and the other two employees have not yet been tested.”

Staff members are isolating for 10 days, and the Maidenhead Inn currently remains open to customers.

Two teachers at Fairfields Primary School on Council Road, and a year 6 teacher were forced to work from home on Monday after they were unable to get a coronavirus test.

Due to the lack of testing the school was almost forced to close but thankfully they were able to remain open.

Rule of six

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.”