THE latest daily Covid-19 case reported figures in Winchester show 98 new people tested positive for the virus in the previous 24 hours, an increase on Sunday's figure of 92.

The recent decline in cases has fully reversed with Covid on the rise in 13 of the 14 districts in the Winchester area.

The sharpest increases have been Swanmore, West Meon and Hambledon, 40 cases, up 20 (100 per cent) for a rolling figure per 100,000 people of 454; Alresford 37, up 18 (95 per cent) 436; and Winchester West (Weeke and Fulflood), 76 cases, up 36 (90 per cent) 763.

The only place where Covid infections have been falling is Springvale and Itchen Abbas, 33, down five (13 per cent), 480 per 100,000.

The other areas are: Winchester East (Winnall, St Giles Hill and Highcliffe) 61, up six (11 per cent), 752 per 100,000 people; Winchester North and Sparsholt 60, up 16 (36 per cent) 613; Winchester Central and South 61, up 21 (52 per cent) 544; Stanmore 17, up one (6 per cent) 245; Oliver's Battery and Hursley 25, up three (14 per cent) 305; Colden Common and Twyford 46, up 19 (70 per cent) 479; South Wonston, Sutton Scotney and Micheldever 35, up five (17 per cent) 591; Whiteley Knowle and Wickham 72, up six, (9 per cent) 612; Bishop's Waltham and Waltham Chase 53, up 10 (23 per cent) 540; Denmead and Southwick 61, up 21 (52 per cent) 576.

The weekly case rate average has also risen to 537 cases per 100,000, up again from 396 the previous Monday. Across Hampshire the figures are 574 compared to 509.

There have been no reported cases of the new Omnicon variant, discovered by scientists in South Africa.

The overall total of cases in Winchester since the start of the pandemic is now 15,883 and 182,148 across Hampshire. Nationally 10,189,059 cases since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

In the most recent update from NHS England, the combined number of Covid-19 related deaths in total in Winchester remains at 183, the ninth day of no change. There have been only two deaths since March.

The overall UK figures show 35 more people having died within 28 days of their first positive test result, down from 51 on Saturday.

Vaccine rates in Winchester have plateaued, with 88.6 per cent having had one jab and 80.6 per cent having had two. A month ago the percentages were 84.9 per cent and 78.2 per cent.

At Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust today there are currently 41 Covid patients: 21 at Basingstoke, 16 at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and four at Andover War Memorial.