Indian Variant Cases Discovered in NE Hampshire

Published on: 24 May, 2021
Updated on: 27 May, 2021

Surrey is now light green on the government’s infection map, meaning it has fewer than 10 cases per 100k of population.

By Martin Giles

With news this evening (May 24) that cases of the “Indian variant” of Covid-19 have been discovered in nearby parts of Hampshire and “surge-testing” introduced, concern will have increased about the possible impact here, just across the county border.

Those in the GU12 postcode which includes Ash, Ash Vale and Ash Green can book tests. The testing is being organised by Hampshire County Council (see: https://www.hants.gov.uk/HartRushmoor-testing).

But the infection rate in Guildford and Surrey has been continuing its slow decline and fingers will remain crossed that we can stay on track for the further relaxation of restrictions on June 21.

In the most recently reported seven day period, there were only 10 new cases among the 150,000 residents of Guildford borough and 109 in Surrey’s 1.2 million.

Not one of Guildford’s reporting areas had three cases or more in the seven days to May 19.

Not one of the small reporting areas in the government’s interactive infection map had three cases or more.

One Covid-associated death was reported in the week ending May 24, only the second in the previous five weeks. Hospital admissions for Covid patients also remain very low. Only one at the Royal Surrey and 11 across Surrey.

The Surrey Heartland figures are a little below the South East’s regional figures shown here but that could partly be that these figures are more up to date.

Meanwhile, progress of the vaccination programme continues its inexorable progress. In the Surrey Heartlands NHS area more than 70% of the over-16 population has now received their first dose and 40% their second.

See also: Local Covid-19 Stats for more statistical detail.