SOUTHAMPTON and other parts of Hampshire have seen a drop in Covid-19 cases in the past week.

Infection rates have dropped from 5.9 new cases for every 100,000 residents to 1.6, according to new figures from Public Health England.

Other parts of Hampshire have also seen a decrease.

The biggest drop has been recorded in the Test Valley, which has seen the infection rate drop from 3.2 to zero.

Eastleigh has gone from 4.6 to 3.0 and the New Forest remains at 2.2, but Fareham has seen an increase - from 1.7 to 2.6.

New data is released each week and shows how rates of positive coronavirus tests are changing in each area. The tests are carried out both in laboratories and in the wider community.

The rate is expressed as the new number of new cases per 100,000 population.