NHS confirms four more coronavirus deaths at Northampton General Hospital

Four more coronavirus deaths have today been confirmed at Northampton General Hospital.

NHS England included the information in Thursday's daily bulletin that four patients died at Northampton General Hospital on between Saturday and Monday this week.

All four had either tested positive for Covid-19 within the previous 28 days or had the virus mentioned on a death certificate.

Today's sad news takes the total to 50 deaths among coronavirus patients at the county's two acute NHS Trusts — 35 at Northampton and 15 at Kettering General Hospital — since early October.

Covid-19 was already linked to 311 deaths in Northampton and 220 in Kettering between March and August.

A further 159 coronavirus-related deaths in county care homes have also been notified by the Care Quality Commission.

In her new weekly column for the Chronicle & Echo and Northants Telegraph, Public Health Director Lucy Wightman said: "Worryingly, we are seeing larger numbers of people over the age of 60 presenting with the virus.

"Among adults, the risk for severe illness from Covid-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that the person with Covid-19 may require hospitalisation, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die.

"We must all do what we can to protect ourselves and each other and recognise that some are more at risk than others, so additional precautions should be taken to reduce this risk.

"We are hearing reports of some people not wearing face masks and an increase in fines issued by the police.

"I urge you to please make sure you protect yourself, your friends, family and fellow residents across the county and wear a mask, as well as continuing to wash your hands frequently and keep two metres apart from those not in your household or support bubble."