New Forest coronavirus infections accelerate as school reveals new case

THE weekly number of new coronavirus cases in the New Forest is accelerating again as a local school becomes the latest to confirm a case.

Government figures have revealed 55 new cases in the district as of yesterday (Tuesday) compared with 35 the week before – bringing the total to 661 so far. The previous week’s increase was 10.

However, there were no deaths in the New Forest, according to the latest separate figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics.

The provisional figures from the ONS relate to cause of death for fatalities up to 25th September but which were registered up to 3rd October.

In the BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch, the number of cases registered so far has reached 1,429.

The latest week of ONS figures also showed there have been no Covid-19 deaths in the conurbation, leaving the total at 189.

On Tuesday the regional R-rates – the average number of people who get infected from some-one with the coronavirus – were in the range of 1.1-1.4 for both the south-east and south-west. A rate of more than one indicates the pandemic is growing.

Meanwhile, Julie Turvey, headteacher at Hounsdown School in Totton, told the A&T parents were notified on Monday after it was made aware of its first positive case.

She said: “The school immediately liaised with both the Department for Education and Public Health England to ensure that the actions taken were in line with the requirements of both organisations.

“Our school has a rigorous and robust risk assessment, with control measures which we are putting in place daily to ensure the safety of our community. These exceed the national requirements.”

A letter sent to parents stated the affected member of the school community, and those who were identified as being in close contact, were now in self-isolation.

It added: “In this situation no students have been identified as close contacts and therefore no students have been asked to self-isolate. The school remains open and your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.”

This follows the closure of Orchard Surgery at Purewell and the Bransgore Medical Centre this week after a staff member tested positive.