First Covid death reported in New Forest for three months

THERE was a Covid-19 death reported in the New Forest for the first time in about three months, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The fatality, the first for 11 weeks, was alongside two deaths in the BCP Council area which includes Christchurch. All three were in hospitals.

The provisional fatality figures related to Covid-19 being mentioned on the death certificate up to 6th August but registered up to 14th August.

Separate government figures showed new weekly cases in the New Forest dropped today (Tuesday) to 443 from 484 last week, giving a rate per 100,000 of 246.6.

The BCP area also experienced a fall, from 1,921 to 1,739. Its rate was 438, compared to 294.7 for the UK.

Second-dose vaccinations in the New Forest rose to 82.1% of adults (126,627) and in BCP to 69.5% (247,423).

In England the second-dose vaccination rate rose 68.3%.