THIRTY four new coronavirus cases were reported in Basingstoke and Deane yesterday, it has been confirmed.

It means that a total of 2,400 people in the borough have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic.

The borough’s rolling seven-day case rate is now below the UK average with 88.9 cases per 100,000.

Whilst the rolling rate is currently below UK average, the Basingstoke and Deane area has the sixth highest rolling rate in the county.

Brighton Hill and Popley are currently hotspots for the area.

Hampshire as a whole has a rolling rate of 85.2 and will face tier two restrictions this week as lockdown ends.

The Government will review the tier allocations every 14 days, with the first review complete by the end of 16 December.

It means Hampshire will have two weeks to reduce infections and make the case for being moved down to tier one.

The total number of coronavirus-related deaths at Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (which includes Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals) stands at 207.

In the last seven days there have been seven Covid related deaths at Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with the latest death recorded on Friday, November 27.