Three more coronavirus deaths in New Forest as new infections rise by 176, weekly figures reveal

THREE more people have died from Covid-19 in the New Forest, according to official figures.

The latest weekly death toll reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed all three died in hospital, bringing the pandemic total so far to 138 in the district.

The BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch, suffered 17 new weekly deaths, with four of them in care homes and the rest in hospital. It brings the conurbation’s death toll to 218.

The two areas’ fatality numbers, published on Tuesday, are the highest in months and came as England neared the end of the first full week of lockdown restrictions imposed last Thursday.

The provisional figures from the ONS related to cause of death for fatalities up to 30th October but which were registered up to 7th November.

Separate government figures for the seven days to Tuesday showed 176 new weekly cases of Covid-19 in the New Forest – up by just four on the previous seven-day increase.

It brought the total cases so far to 1,368.

It meant the infection rate per 100,000 people in the district on Tuesday climbed from 95.5 to 97.7. The area compares well to Bradford, one of the worst hit areas of the UK, on 578.9.

The BCP Council area rate has fallen slightly from 207.9 last Tuesday to 205.9 this week. There were 814 new weekly cases, down slightly from to 822 previously.

It brings the combined number across the conurbation to 4,882 since the start of the pandemic.

The case figures are for the numbers of people with at least one lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 test result in the most recent seven-day period.