Health officials face the media again over current Covid-19 situation in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Council will host a media briefing at 3pm on Friday covering the latest developments related to Covid-19 in the area.

Public Health England are due to publish their latest weekly surveillance report today revealing if Northampton remains an "area of concern" over rising rates of transmission in the town.

Latest figures showed a further 28 positive tests in Northamptonshire in a 24-hour period up to 9am on Thursday — 17 of them in Northampton, the biggest single-day rise in the town since July 17.

The town was highlighted as a potential Covid-19 hotspot by PHE two weeks ago, prompting officials to roll out extra testing capacity and fresh guidance to slow the spread of the virus.

Since then, another 135 Northampton residents have been told to self-isolate for ten days after testing positive. The government's test and trace service has also attempted to contact anybody identified as being in direct contact with someone testing positive and told them to self-isolate for two weeks.

YOU CAN FOLLOW TODAY'S BRIEFING AS IT HAPPENS ON THE CHRONICLE & ECHO WEBSITE HEREWarnings have also been issued during two previous briefings by county health officials to limit contact with other households — especially indoors — avoid car sharing and using public transport unless there is no option, and to continue working from home where you can rather than follow the general government guidance on returning to workplaces.

Sports events involving more than two teams are also banned until at least next week.

Local guidance was extended to Corby last week, although the borough has seen nine new cases in the last seven days — including two revealed yesterday.

East Northamptonshire saw four new cases while two positive tests were also confirmed in Kettering and South Northants.

One new case was added in Wellingborough, which had seen seven residents test positive the previous day.

Four testing sites are set up on Friday, two in Northampton and one each in Corby and Kettering. Click HEREfor details.

HERE'S THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW IN AND AROUND NORTHAMPTON AND CORBYThe council's director of public health, Lucy Wightman, said: "The more people who get tested the more likely we are able to understand the situation and then we can take measures to address them.

““It is essential that if you are concerned you have coronavirus or experience symptoms — high temperature, continuous cough or change in sense of smell or taste — you book a test.

“If you test positive, you must self-isolate, do not go to your workplace or to the shops, either work from home or report sick."

Tests can be booked online at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

The death toll from Covid-19 stands at 664 in Northamptonshire's two main hospitals and care homes with a total of 3,645 positive tests since the first case was recorded in the county on March 3.