COVID-19 infection rates are still rising across East Hampshire and county-wide.

According to the latest government data, 18,570 new cases were reported in Hampshire in the seven days to December 22.

The county’s rolling seven-day infection rate currently stands at 1,009.6 cases per 100,000 people.

Across England, there were 647,595 cases in the seven days to December 22, with an infection rate of 1,145.2 per 100,000 people.

Locally, in East Hampshire, 1,190 cases were reported over the same period, giving the borough an infection rate of 960.9 cases per 100,000.

This is up from 882 cases and an infection rate of 712.2 for the seven days to December 15 in East Hampshire.

The infection rate in neighbouring Chichester district stands at 839.5 per 100,000.

The government’s interactive map of cases (https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map/cases) reveals infection rates are consistently above 800 cases per 100,000 people across the Petersfield area.

Hospital admissions across the South East have increased daily since Christmas Day, with 794 Covid-19 patients receiving treatment in the region’s hospitals on December 25, rising to 803 on Boxing Day, and 926 on December 27.

The number of Covid-19 patients on mechanical ventilation has dropped, however, from 108 on Christmas Day to 99 on Boxing Day and 93 on December 27.

Hospital admissions remain significantly below last winter’s peak though, when on January 13, 2020, 5,577 Covid-19 patients were receiving hospital treatment in the South East.

Find out how your area is faring by using the interactive map at https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map/cases