Two new Covid-19 victims confirmed on 100th day of lockdown in Northamptonshire

Two new Covid-19 victims were confirmed on the 100th day since lockdown in Northamptonshire.

NHS data issued today confirmed two deaths at Northampton General Hospital — one on Thursday and another on Friday — had taken the grim tally to 633 among those testing positive for coronavirus in the county's two main hospitals and care homes when the latest figures were collated at 5pm on Monday night (June 29).

NGH has seen 293 victims since the first Covid-19 death in the county back on March 16, although just three of those have so far been recorded in the last week.

Bulletins usually allow up to a five-day lag in reporting new fatalities among patients testing positive for the coronavirus. So any deaths which have may have occurred since Friday may not yet be included in official records.

A further 213 have died at Kettering General Hospital — although no more were recorded on today's list — while the Care Quality Commission have identified 127 deaths related to coronavirus in county care homes up to last Friday (June 26).

Fresh CQC figures published by the Office for National Statistics released today revealed there have been no coronavirus-linked deaths care homes here since June 11.

Overall, the total of known Covid-19 victims in Northamptonshire so far now stands at 633.

It was back on March 23 that Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the UK public they could only leave home for essential shopping, exercise once a day or to travel to work when absolutely necessary.

The death toll in Northamptonshire then stood at eight with just 29 positive tests having been confirmed by labs.

Many restrictions have since been eased and, from this weekend, the county's pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will all be allowed to reopen.

Numbers of fresh Covid-19 cases have fallen in Northamptonshire in recent weeks, although the county's top health official warns there is still a "significant risk" of new infections.

And people are being urged to continue social distancing and good hygiene to avoid the chance of a spike in cases similar to that which has forced a local lockdown in Leicester.

The average number of fresh positive tests for the killer bug during the last 14 days is now around 4.7 per day in Northamptonshire, according to Government figures, compared to nearly 11 three weeks ago.

Northamptonshire's Director of Public Health, Lucy Wightman said: “Whilst there are increasing signs of normality returning, we must remember that the virus continues to be in circulation and the risk posed by local outbreaks remains significant.

"Following social distancing and other infection prevention and control guidelines gives us the best chance of keeping the virus transmission under control."

Yesterday's Public Health England announcement put the number of positive tests in the county at 1,689 after a rise of just one in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Monday.