Kettering General Hospital coronavirus patient dies

A KGH patient who had tested positive for coronavirus has died.

The man, who had underlying health conditions, died yesterday, health officials confirmed this evening (Tuesday).

It's the first confirmed death in Northamptonshire of someone with the virus, which has now affected almost 2,000 people in the UK.

KGH medical director Professor Andrew Chilton said: “Sadly we can confirm that a man who was being cared for at Kettering General Hospital, and had tested positive for COVID-19 has died.

"The patient who died on March 16 had underlying health conditions.

"His family has been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.”

The man's age has not been disclosed by KGH.

It's been a month since the Rothwell Road hospital set up a pod to isolate those suspected of having coronavirus.

After a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization the hospital restricted its visiting hours.

The first Northamptonshire coronavirus case was confirmed by the Department of Health on March 3 as a person who had recently been to Italy, which is the most-affected country in Europe.

Latest Public Health England figures show 12 reported cases in the county.