THE number of Covid cases has dropped across Southampton, despite almost half of the city's 31 clusters recording an increase in new positive tests.

Public Health England's latest data showed that in the week to-August 20, 15 districts recorded a rise in cases, with areas to the east of the River Itchen seeing the biggest increase.

Townhill Park (28 cases, up 17), Sholing West (35 cases, up 16), and Thornhill (32 cases, up 13) recorded the largest rises in the city.

However, 13 city areas did record a decrease in cases, most notably Central Southampton West (42 cases, down 19), and Newtown and Nicholstown (48 cases, down 20), although both areas still recorded high overall case numbers.

Three areas saw no change: Bevois Town (31 cases), Itchen (31 cases), and St Denys (29 cases).

Southampton as a whole recorded 924 cases, down 11 cases or -1.2%. This left the city with an average infection rate of 365.4, or one case per 274 people.

In comparison to Hampshire, the area recorded 4,421 cases, up 666 cases or 17.7% in the same time period. It was left with an infection rate of 318.2, or one case per every 314 people. The Hampshire data does not include cases from Southampton or Portsmouth.

Clusters are shown when there are three or more new cases reported at any one time.

Anywhere with between zero and two cases are shown in white in order to "protect the privacy of individuals and prevent disclosure", the Government organisation states.

There were no areas of Southampton that recorded fewer than three cases in the seven days to-August 20.

Daily Echo:

The latest data for the 31 Southampton clusters:

  • Aldermoor and Lordswood - 21 cases, down 10
  • Banister Park and Howard Road - 29 cases, down 2
  • Bassett Green - 28 cases, up 2
  • Bevois Town - 31 cases, no change
  • Bitterne East - 24 cases, up 2
  • Bitterne South - 19 cases, up 1
  • Bitterne West - 27 cases, up 2
  • Central Southampton East - 56 cases, down 6
  • Central Southampton West - 42 cases, down 19
  • Coxford and Lordshill - 20 cases, up 4
  • Freemantle - 28 cases, down 5
  • Harefield - 30 cases, up 7
  • Highfield and University - 23 cases, down 3
  • Hightown - 21 cases, down 7
  • Hollybrook - 8 cases, down 16
  • Itchen - 31 cases, no change
  • Maybush - 24 cases, up 1
  • Newtown and Nicholstown - 48 cases, down 20
  • Redbridge and Millbrook West - 29 cases, up 6
  • Regents Park and Millbrook East - 26 cases, down 6
  • Shirley South - 26 cases, up 5
  • Shirley Warren - 28 cases, down 3
  • Sholing East - 27 cases, up 7
  • Sholing West - 35 cases, up 16
  • St Denys - 29 cases, no change
  • Swaythling - 25 cases, down 14
  • Thornhill - 32 cases, up 13
  • Townhill Park - 28 cases, up 17
  • Weston - 41 cases, up 12
  • Woolston - 50 cases, up 11
  • Upper Shirley - 22 cases, down 3