Covid-19 claims its 500th victim among Northamptonshire's hospital patients and care home residents

Covid-19 has claimed its 500th victim in Northamptonshire's main hospitals and care homes.

Fresh data revealed today (May 26) confirmed there have 390 deaths among coronavirus patients in the county's two acute hospitals and a further 111 deaths linked to Covid-19 in care homes since the pandemic began back in March.

Numbers based on Care Quality Commission data released by the Office for National Statistics showed six more deaths in Northamptonshire care homes between May 15 to May 22, although that figure is substantially down from the 21 victims confirmed over the previous seven-day period which were released a week ago.

In addition, three more deaths were recorded at Northampton General Hospital on Saturday (May 23) according to the Department of Health's latest daily bulletin. That takes the sombre total to 226 among patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 at the Cliftonville site when the latest data was collated at 5pm on Monday (May 25).

No fresh victims were recorded at Kettering General Hospital for the second day in a row, leaving the total number of deaths there standing at 164 since 45-year-old dad-of-two Craig Ruston became the hospital's first coronavirus victim on March 16.

Figures are generally lower following weekends and Bank Holidays because of an extra 'lag' in registrations and other formalities which need to be completed.

Across the UK, 265,227 people have now tested positive for the bug and of those 37,048 have died in hospitals, in care homes and in the community. The daily rise of 134 compares to 961 deaths in one 24-hour period which was reported on April 2 when the pandemic was at its peak.

The number of positive Covid-19 tests in Northamptonshire stood at 1,435— a rise of 13 in the previous 24 hours — when the latest figures were collated at 9am today (May 26).

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