Corby man's Covid death is first at KGH for almost two months

Kettering General Hospital has suffered its first Covid-related death for almost two months after a Corby man died earlier this week.

The tragic death on June 14 was one of three Covid deaths in English hospitals confirmed by the Government yesterday (Wednesday).

The man had been admitted to the Rothwell Road hospital the previous week after contracting the virus, which is now linked to the deaths of 126 Corby residents.

His Covid death is the first of a Corby resident since April 4 and the first Covid death at KGH since April 23.

Since the start of the pandemic a total of 494 KGH patients have now died after testing positive for Covid-19.

Covid cases have been rising across the country, with 9,055 reported nationally yesterday.

But daily case numbers in the north of Northamptonshire have remained low.

In Corby yesterday zero cases were reported with one in Kettering, four in Wellingborough and one in East Northamptonshire.

Corby - whose Covid case rate was the worst in the country for several weeks earlier this year - now has a seven-day rate of 25 cases per 100,000 people. The average in England is 83.3, with Blackburn with Darwen's case rate the highest at 524.

Kettering's seven-day rate is 20, Wellingborough's is 33 and East Northants' is 32.

Corby is lagging behind when it comes to vaccination rates, however, and a new vaccination facility is due to open in Rockingham Road later on June 21 to add more capacity for the town.

And with the Indian variant of the virus, which is more transmissible, becoming dominant across the country health chiefs have urged people to come forward for their jab when they are called.

Chris Pallot, director of Northamptonshire’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, said: "We know particular communities are much more reluctant than others to come forward, we've seen that principally from our eastern European communities.

"We are doing a lot of work with community leaders and people who can hopefully influence those members of our community to accept the offer of a vaccine because this really is the way to protect yourselves and our families and our loved ones.

“Uptake of the vaccine has been extremely positive in our county.

"More than 760,000 doses have been administered and 77 percent of the 30-and-over population have received a first dose of the vaccine.

“Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing we can do to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities against coronavirus.

"We’re determined no-one is left behind so I would urge everyone who’s eligible to come forward for their vaccine as soon as they are invited.

"The offer of a vaccine doesn’t expire so if you’ve previously received an invitation for your first dose but haven’t yet booked your appointment, now is the time to do so.

"And when the time comes for your second dose, please remember to keep your appointment because you need both doses to ensure you are fully protected from coronavirus."