New Forest Covid update: Two deaths for second week running

FOR the second week running there have been two new weekly coronavirus deaths in the New Forest, according in the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In the seven-day report for the district published on Tuesday, figures showed that both victims died in care homes. Two weeks earlier the reported number of fatalities was six.

In the BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch, there were three deaths – down from seven last week and 14 the week before that. The latest fatalities were all in hospital.

The provisional figures from the ONS related to instances where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 19th March but were registered up to 27th March. Previously reported numbers can change after being updated by the ONS.

According to separate government figures on Tuesday, the number of new weekly cases of Covid-19 in the New Forest was 43 for the second successive week.

It gave an infection rate in the district of 23.9 per 100,000 people – less than half the UK rate of 56.2. The highest rate was in Leeds with 116.

In the BCP conurbation the number of new weekly cases on Tuesday was 76 – down from last week’s 98. The rate per 100,000 people was 19.2.

The infection figures are for the numbers of people with at least one lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 test result in the preceding seven days.