No Forest Covid deaths for third week running as vaccination hits 75%

FOR the third week running there have been zero coronavirus deaths reported in the New Forest or Christchurch.

The latest weekly report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Tuesday coincided with separate government figures showing new cases remained low in both areas.

New weekly figures for the numbers of people being vaccinated locally have also been published, showing 75.4% (115,999 people) of the New Forest population over 18 had received a first dose, and 46.8% (71,959) a second.

In the BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch, the equivalent figures are 64.6% (229,648) and 38.9% (138,079).

On Tuesday, there were just nine new Covid-19 cases in the Forest over the latest seven-day period, compared with 16 last week. The rate per 100,000 people was just five.

Across the UK there were 14,712 new weekly cases, giving a rate of 22 per 100,000 people.

In the BCP conurbation the number of new weekly cases fell from 45 to 42. The rate per 100,000 people was 10.6.

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

The provisional fatality figures from the ONS related to instances where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 7th May but were registered up to 15th May.

Previously reported numbers can change after being updated by the ONS.