Record number of positive Covid-19 tests two days in a row in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire saw a record number of new positive Covid-19 tests for a second day in a row.

Government analysts last night (Thursday) revealed 242 lab-confirmed positive tests across the county during the latest 24-hour reporting period.

That followed 236 positive swabs the previous day.

Northampton alone saw 189 positive tests in 48 hours, lifting the infection rate in the borough over 200 for the first time to 219.4 per 100,000 people per week.

Health chiefs and council leaders will address a weekly press conference today (Friday) detailing the county's response to growing numbers of Covid-19 cases in the county.

FOLLOW today's Covid-19 press conference LIVE on the Chronicle & Echo and Northants Telegraph websites from 3pm

Public Health Director Lucy Wightman said: "Testing is going to be key throughout lockdown period.

"People still may develop systems within the next 14 days so anyone with symptoms or are identified as a potential contact of someone who has had a positive test should seek a test.

"All testing sites will remain open throughout the lockdown period and journeys to have a test is one you are able to make.

"Anybody testing positive must isolate away from the rest of their household and use shared spaces in residences last."

National lockdown restrictions imposed on Thursday forbid people from leaving home unnecessarily and have forced non-essential shops, pubs and entertainment venues to close until at least December 2.

Mrs Wightman added: "Northamptonshire was in the lowest tier of restrictions before the national lockdown was announced.

"We are keen to use this four week period to reduce the viral level and burden on NHS and come out in an even better position."

Northamptonshire's two acute hospitals in Northampton and Kettering were treating 88 Covid-positive patients up to Wednesday while 24 deaths among patients have been linked to the virus since the beginning of October.

Data analysts compare figures from different areas by taking the number of positive tests in each borough or district and recalculating them assuming each area has the same size of population, 100,000 people, to find the average number of cases over per week.

Today's press conference will be shown data up to last weekend as authorities allow for a lag in reporting figures which can mean minor corrections in figures.

These are the number of cases in latest 24 hour reporting period which were confirmed on the Government's data dashboard on Thursday (November 5) and the infection rates per week per 100,000 people:

Northampton 97, 219.4; East Northants 25, 192.5; South Northants 29, 175.7; Wellingborough 23, 150.6; Daventry 19, 145.4; Kettering 30, 103.2; Corby 19, 103.2