First double-digit rise in a week in number of Northamptonshire hospitals' Covid-19 victims

Northamptonshire's two main hospitals saw a double-digit rise in the daily number of reported Covid-19 victims for the first time in a week.

But the sudden jump is not unexpected as Wednesday's figures are often higher to make up for a 'lag' in reporting deaths at weekends.

Two patients died at Northampton General Hospital on Sunday and Monday this week (May 17 and May 18)

Eight more victims were recorded at Kettering hospital between May 15 and 18.

That took the total to a sobering 367 at the two NHS trusts since the coronavirus outbreak claimed its first victim on March 3.

Of those, 214 have died at the biggest of the county's two main NHS Trusts, Northampton General, with a further 153 at Kettering, according to the latest data collated at 5pm on Tuesday (May 19).

In addition, the Office for National Statistics revealed yesterday there have been 105 coronavirus-related deaths in the county's care homes up to May 15. That takes the total number of victims county-wide to 462.

The figures relating to care homes are based on Care Quality Commission data and showed 21 victims in Northamptonshire care homes between May 8 to May 15 — including eight in a single day on May 12.

The number of positive Covid-19 tests in the county stood at 1,354, a rise of 29 in the previous 24 hours when figures were collated at 9am yesterday (May 20).

Sharper rises in the number of sufferers in Northamptonshire have followed increases in the number of tests in the county.

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