YOUNG adults are most likely to contract Covid-19 in Hampshire.

A report from Hampshire County Council shows that the 20 to 24-year-old age bracket has the highest number of Covid-19 cases.

Simon Bryant, director of public health, said: “Overall, case rates are high in Hampshire’s districts, suggesting sustained and rising community transmission.

“We now have a largely vaccinated, but partially boosted population so need to encourage uptake among unprotected people and urge COVID-19 booster uptake if eligible, to top-up immunity.

“The critical message while rates are high and with a new variant in circulation, is that the community gets fully vaccinated and, if eligible, boosted, and that face coverings, good ventilation, hand and cough hygiene and social distancing measures, are complied with, to control the spread of infection.’

Figures in December showed the five to nine-year-old and 10 to 14-year-old age brackets had the highest rate of cases. These have now dropped significantly.

Mr Bryant said: “Reassuringly, rates in younger children aged 0-4 years are relatively lower for now, at 387.8 per 100,000 population.

“However, we have to protect our unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children, including vulnerable communities by promoting vaccination and urgent rollout of the COVID-19 booster campaign and highlight the importance of taking reasonable care to keep safe, regularly test and contact trace.”

David George