NHS confirms 16 Covid deaths in five days at Northamptonshire hospitals

The number of known coronavirus deaths in Northamptonshire's hospitals rose by 16 today (December 16).

NHS England revealed 11 patients died while being treated for Covid-19 at Northampton General Hospital between Thursday and Saturday of last week.

A further five deaths were recorded at Kettering General Hospital — three on Sunday and two on Saturday.

Northamptonshire's two main NHS trusts have now seen 881 coronavirus patients die since the start of the pandemic in March while a further 189 have died in county care homes.

According to NHS England, all those who died in hospitals had either tested positive for Covid-19 within the previous 28 days or had the virus mentioned on a death certificate.

The latest sad news comes just a day before the Government is due to announce if Northamptonshire will be put into Tier Three under the Covid Winter Plan and face tougher restrictions before and after Christmas.

READ THIS: Five factors which will decide if Northamptonshire goes into Tier Three — or stays in Tier TwoMore than 1,200 new positive tests have been recorded in Northamptonshire during the last week, according to Public Health England figures while hospital admissions have risen to levels similar to those seen at the height of the pandemic's first wave in April leading to 68 deaths in the last fortnight.

Ahead of tomorrow's announcement, Northants Director of Public Health, Lucy Wightman, warned: "Our NHS services are already completely overloaded, we're still seeing significant increases in cases and, sadly, deaths.

"No specific thresholds for moving between tiers have been set. But if you apply some common sense, look at the rates other areas were touching on when they went into Tier Three and Northampton in particular is pretty much in that space now.

"If it doesn't happen this week, then I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen pretty soon after Christmas.

“As Covid-19 related hospital admissions continue to rise, I’m continuing to ask all residents to protect themselves and the vulnerable older population of 60-plus who tend to be at greater risk of more severe disease.

“At the moment I am still deeply concerned about the rising trend of cases as we head into more relaxed restrictions over the festive period.

“The last thing anyone wants to give the ones they love for Christmas is Covid-19 so we all need to be extra cautious."