BASINGSTOKE is now classed as a hotspot area as cases in the borough soar with more than 800 new positive Covid tests results per week.

Official government data shows that in the 14 day period from July 1, 2021 to July 14, 2021, Basingstoke and Deane recorded a 1,234 cases of coronavirus.

This is a huge increase of 24,580 per cent compared to last years figures when, during the same time frame of July 1, 2020 to July 14, 2020, a total of 5 cases were recorded in the borough.

No deaths were recorded in the borough during both the 2020 and 2021 time period.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Tadley West is currently the worst affected area in Basingstoke with 60 cases recorded in the seven days to July 14 giving it a rolling rate of 817.7 cases per 10,000 people.

Other hot spot areas shown in light purple on the map, to indicate a rolling rate between 400 – 799 include:

  • Tadley East, Pamber  and Silchester
  • Bramley, Sherfield and the SherbornesChineham
  • Houndmills and Oakridge
  • Kings Furlong
  • Basingstoke Central, Black Dam and Eastrop
  • South Ham and West Ham
  • Viables
  • Brighton Hill
  • Buckskin and Worting
  • Whitchurch and Ashmansworth
  • Kempshott
  • Overton and North Waltham

Basingstoke Gazette: (Image: PA)(Image: PA)

Hampshire Hospitals Trust was caring for 25 coronavirus patients in hospital as of last Tuesday, July 13.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated at Hampshire Hospitals Trust for Covid-19 by 8am on July 13 was up from 10 on the same day the previous week.

There were four beds occupied by Covid-19 patients five weeks ago in Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It comes as all remaining legal restrictions were lifted in England yesterday, including the mandatory wearing of masks in indoor settings.

But the Government has called for the public to exercise caution, with a recommendation that masks should still be used in crowded and enclosed spaces.

All legal limits on the numbers meeting indoors and outdoors have now been scrapped and all businesses can reopen, including nightclubs – for the first time since March 2020.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The Government is recommending that businesses use “certification” as a basis of entry to venues deemed “high risk”, especially when prevalence of coronavirus is high as it is currently.

People can attend concerts, theatre and sports events and the one-metre-plus rule on social distancing has ended.

The instruction to work from home has been scrapped, although ministers are encouraging firms to implement a gradual return to the office, and the limit on named visitors to care homes will be lifted.

In a move towards restarting international travel, from Monday children and adults who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus do not have to quarantine on their return to England from amber list countries.

The exception is France, with fully-vaccinated travellers returning to England still required to quarantine, following a last-minute Government announcement.

The Spanish islands of Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca have been added to the Government’s amber travel list due to a surge in Covid cases. The change will affect those returning to England, Scotland and Wales.

Bulgaria and Hong Kong have been added to the green list – meaning there is no requirement to isolate on return, while Croatia and Taiwan have been added to the “green watchlist” meaning they are at risk of going amber.

Meanwhile, rules on 10-day self-isolation periods in England are being eased for the fully vaccinated and under-18s, but not until August 16.

From August 16, those who have allowed their second jab a fortnight to take effect and all under-18s will not have to self-isolate if they come into close contact with someone who has Covid and will instead be advised to take a PCR test. If the result is negative, they will not need to isolate or take another test.