New weekly Covid-19 cases fall in the New Forest and BCP Council areas

THE number of new weekly coronavirus infections fell in the New Forest, according to government figures, following a series of rises.

On Tuesday the figure stood at 407 – down from last week's 594 and giving a case rate per 100,000 people of 226.

There were no Covid-19 deaths reported in the district by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), although there was one fatality in a hospital in the BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch.

There, the conurbation also experienced a small drop in new weekly coronavirus cases, reaching 1,973 on Tuesday compared with 2,014 the week before.

The rate per 100,000 people was 499.1 – well above the UK level of 279.5.

The provisional fatality figures from the ONS related to Covid-19 being mentioned on the death certificate up to 23rd July but registered up to 31st July.

On the vaccination front, second doses in the New Forest rose on Tuesday from 77.6% (119,610) to 79% (121,802). First doses went from 88.9% (137,021) to 89.1% (137,363).

In the BCP area, second jabs have been administered to 66.4% (236,201) and first doses to 79.1% (281,611).

In England the first-dose vaccination rate was 78.5% and for second doses 64.6%.