Coronavirus claims 75 lives in Kettering and surrounding areas

Coronavirus has claimed the lives of 75 people in Kettering and surrounding areas since March, new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show.

Kettering Town and West area has been hit hardest, with 21 deaths linked to Covid-19 registered in the area since March. May was the worst month for the area, with 11 deaths.

The 21 deaths in Kettering Town and West, which covers the Leisure Village and much of the town centre, account for 28 per cent of all deaths in the Kettering area.

The figures released by the ONS today show the number of deaths occurring between March 1 and May 31 that were registered by June 6 with Covid-19 as the underlying cause of death or mentioned as a contributory factor.

The numbers are linked to the area a person was from, not where their death occurred.

Desborough was the second worst affected place in the Kettering area. There were 13 deaths linked to coronavirus, seven of which occurred in May.

May was the deadliest month for the whole Kettering area with 44 deaths, or 59 per cent of the total. This is out of step with the national picture, as the peak was in April.

Burton Latimer, Broughton and Mawsley was the only other area to hit double figures, with 10 deaths linked to coronavirus between April and May. Six of these happened in May.

The figures have been released by the ONS in an interactive map that can be viewed here.

Here is the full list of coronavirus deaths by neighbourhood in the Kettering area:

Kettering Town and West: 21

Desborough: 13

Burton Latimer, Broughton, Mawsley: 10

Geddington, Rushton and Stoke Albany: 7

Barton Seagrave: 7

Rothwell: 5

Kettering South: 5

Kettering Brambleside: 5

Kettering Avondale Grange: 4

Kettering Central East: 3

Kettering East: 2

Northamptonshire's director of public health, Lucy Wightman, has been urging the public to continue to follow social distancing and lockdown guidance.

She said: "The people of Northamptonshire have been fantastic in the way that they have embraced social distancing and followed government and health advice so far during the pandemic – but it’s clear that we all must remain focused on playing our own part to stop the spread of coronavirus.

"Please stay at home as much as possible and limit contact with other people where it is necessary to go out, including remaining at least two metres away from people outside your own household and continue to wash your hands regularly.

It’s also important to remember that the NHS is still here for all those who need it. Even if you are shielding or isolating at home, please contact your GP or use the NHS 111 service if you need help for your physical or mental health."

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