Northamptonshire hospitals battling biggest daily surge yet in Covid-19 cases

Northamptonshire's two NHS hospitals are dealing with the biggest surge in Covid-19 cases yet as the pandemic continues to spread through the county.

Public Health England revealed 85 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a 24-hour period up to 9am yesterday (Monday April 6).

That takes the total to 428 since the first case in the county was reported on March 3.

The daily increase in cases is nearly DOUBLE the previous high, 44 announced last Friday.

NHS officials have now confirmed 41 deaths in hospitals in the county, as at 5pm on Sunday (April 5). Of those, 21 have been at Northampton General Hospital and 20 at Kettering.

But experts admit the true number of coronavirus-related fatalities in the county is much higher since the figures only includes hospital patients, not those in care homes or at home.

The UK epidemic is still not predicted to peak for another week or two.

The official number of deaths in the UK stands 5,373 while 51,608 have tested positive nationwide with updated figures due to be released this afternoon..

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