SEVEN Covid 'hotspots' have been identified in and around Southampton, but infections rates are beginning to drop, according to an interactive Government map.

The areas have been placed in Public Health England's top infection rate bracket, which means that almost one in 100 people in those districts had coronavirus in the seven-day period to January 7.

In the screenshot of the map below, places with a high infection rate appear dark purple.

Daily Echo: The latest data - for the seven days to January 7The latest data - for the seven days to January 7

This is however down on the seven days to January 5, where 12 areas were marked as 'hotspots', as shown in the map below.

Daily Echo: The data for the week up to January 5The data for the week up to January 5

The map uses data from Public Health England to show potential virus "hotspots" in the country.

It is divided into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs), which are areas with an average population of 7,200.

The map colour-codes MSOAs depending on their seven day rolling rate, with areas placed into the boundaries of 0-10, 11-50, 51-100, 101-200, 201-400, 400 to 799 and 800 plus.

Places with a high MSOA rate appear on the map in light purple (400 to 799) or dark purple (800 plus).

The areas no longer classed as hotspots, but were in the seven-day period to January 5, were: Bitterne East, Bitterne West, Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, Freemantle, Hollybrook, Redbridge and Millbrook West, and Sholing East.

Areas with rolling rates above 800 in or close to Southampton, and have been identified as a 'hotspot':

  • Aldermoor and Lordswood - 72 cases (no change) - 930.6 rolling infection rate
  • Bitterne South - 49 cases (8.9% rise) - 803.3
  • Coxford and Lords Hill - 52 cases (22.4% down) - 868.8
  • Maybush - 69 cases (30.2% rise) - 844
  • St Denys - 74 cases (15.6% rise) - 862.2
  • Upper Shirley - 64 cases (56.1% ruse) - 817
  • Weston - 52 cases (79.3% rise) - 866.2