Four more deaths from Covid-19 in Derbyshire

A FURTHER four people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 across Derbyshire, according to the latest NHS England data.

Three fatalities were recorded at Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust and one at Derbyshire Community Health Services.

In the latest 24-hour period another 155 cases of coronavirus were recorded in the county - fewer than half of the previous day’s total for new cases. In Derby, 44 new cases were recorded, bringing the total to 7,378.

The Government said a further 608 people, including a 10-year-old boy, had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, bringing the UK total number of Covid-related deaths to 55,838.

This is the highest daily total since 614 deaths were reported on May 12 – but there is often a delay in the reporting of deaths over the weekend.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been more than 71,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The Government said that, as of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 11,299 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus. It brings the total number of cases across the UK to 1,538,794.

Here is the breakdown for each local authority area in Derbyshire: Amber Valley - 3,262 (up 32) Bolsover - 2,361 (up 15) Chesterfield - 2,555 (up 8) Derby - 7,378 (up 44) Derbyshire Dales - 1,166 (up 5) Erewash - 2,768 (up 14)

High Peak - 2,273 (up 11)

N E Derbyshire - 2,751 (up 11) South Derbyshire - 2,821 (up 15)

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that the leaders of the four UK nations had agreed that up to three households would be able to meet up for Christmas from December 23 to 27.

People can mix in homes, places of worship and outdoor spaces, and travel restrictions will also be eased. But existing rules on hospitality and venues will remain, and the “Christmas bubble” formed must be “exclusive”.

The leaders urged people to “think carefully about what they do” to keep the risk of increased transmission low. They added that 2020 “cannot be a normal Christmas” but family and friends would be able to see each other in a “limited and cautious” way.