Hopes raised that Portsmouth could be moved to tier one as Covid rates drop

Portsmouth has seen 138 new infections per 100,000 population in the seven days to November 25 - a drop from 314 in just 12 days.

Now Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Portsmouth City Council leader, has said he hopes to see all of Hampshire placed in tier one at the next review of restrictions.

He said: ‘If we can continue like this with a bit of luck when all tiers are reviewed I hope we can get Hampshire into tier one.

‘We’ve got to make sure that we beat the virus and it looks as if the actions people are taking is making a real difference to bringing that down.

‘Our numbers did go up in a big, big spike, particularly with the number of people in October who tested positive.

‘That transferred then from younger people into all age groups.’

Portsmouth saw 116 new infections on November 13 – the biggest single increase since the pandemic started.

But since then new cases has dramatically dropped – with just 21 last Thursday.

Southampton has a much lower rate of 85.5 per 100,000, latest official figures show.

Havant’s rate is 133.1 per 100,000 in the seven days to November 24, with 113 deaths recorded in all. Portsmouth has seen 119 deaths.

Alan Mak, Havant MP, said: ‘While Havant has the second highest coronavirus infection rate in Hampshire, fortunately we're still below the national average.

‘These restrictions are reviewed every two weeks and if the public continue to follow the rules and bring the cases down, we have the opportunity to move into tier one.’

Gosport has a rate of 136.7 and has seen 66 people die in the pandemic.

Hampshire’s overall rate is lower – prompting some calls for it to be put into tier one.

It would mean people could meet inside their homes, abiding by the rule of six. This is not allowed in tier two.

But Hampshire county councillor Sean Woodward, also leader of Fareham’s council, warned against hopes of entering tier one.

He said: ‘I wouldn't be counting chickens or even turkeys at the moment.

‘It would be nice to think that might happen but I think while Portsmouth is at that sort of level, and above the south east average, then one can only speculate.

‘Hampshire, overall right across Hampshire, is half of that in Portsmouth.’

Deaths in Hampshire have hit 1,076 as of Sunday. But the infection rate is far less than in the city, with 81.6 per 100,000 in the seven days to November 25.

‘One swallow doesn’t make a summer,’ Cllr Woodward added.

Fareham has a rate of 78.3, while East Hampshire has a rate of 94.

Major efforts by business, families and the NHS front line are however being undermined by the few.

An 18-year-old man has been summoned to court following a ‘party’ and fighting in the street in Sheffield Road in Fratton on Friday night.

Portsmouth leader Cllr Vernon-Jackson said it was ‘outrageous’ people were having parties.

He said: ‘It's a real problem for neighbours and I get reports of student parties every week from people who have had a really difficult time but this era when we’ve got to keep distanced from each other, having a party is just mad.’

A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: ‘We were called at 11.54pm on November 27 to a reports of a large group of people fighting in the street,

‘Officers attended and spoke to an 18-year-old man who was reported for summons for breaching Covid-19 rules.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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