Death toll is highest on record at hospitals

We can confirm 1,241 patients who had tested positive for Covid-19, have died. Eighty-nine of those deaths have been announced since February 10

MORE than 80 Covid-related deaths have been confirmed by Leicester’s hospitals trust in its highest weekly update.

There were 89 patient deaths at the three hospitals in the week to Wednesday (February 17).

Among them was at least one person in their 30s. Other patients who died at either Leicester Royal Infirmary, the General or Glenfield were aged up to their 90s.

A spokesman for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said: “Sadly, we can confirm that 1,241 patients being cared for at our hospitals, and who had tested positive for Covid-19, have died.

“Eighty-nine of those deaths have been announced since Wednesday, February

10.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the patients at this very difficult and distressing time.”

The previous highest weekly coronavirus death toll was 84. There 59 Covid-related deaths in the seven days to February 10.

The first pandemic-related death in the county was in mid-March last year. Since then, a patient in their 20s was the youngest to die, the oldest was in their

100s. Reporting delays mean some of the deaths could have occurred earlier. Nationally, the current wave of coronavirus deaths peaked on January 19.

A total of 1,280 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in England on that date, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. It has been on a broadly downwards curve since, dropping below 1,000 on January 29.

Leicester has returned to the top 10 worst areas in England for coronavirus infection rates, despite a continuing decline in the number of new cases.

Latest verified Public Health England data placed the city seventh out of 315 English council areas, with the seven-day incidence rate at 252.1 cases per 100,000 people.

The national average was just under 140 cases per 100,000 people.

The fall in the city was less sharp than in other parts of the county and that pushed it back up the ranking compiled by the Press Association and based on figures in the week to Sunday, February 14. The list also showed all other parts of Leicestershire saw a decline in infection rates over those seven days, except North West Leicestershire.

The district’s incidence rate rose to 215.2 cases per 100,000 people and was one of 13 areas across the country that saw an increase.

It entered the top 20 infection areas in England at 18.

The other districts in the county were ranked as follows:

51: Charnwood – 185.6 per 100,000, 345 cases;

73: Blaby – 174.3 per 100,000, 177 cases;

80: Harborough – 163.1 per 100,000, 153 cases;

81: Hinckley and Bosworth – 162.6 per 100,000, 184 cases;

115: Oadby and Wigston – 142.1 per 100,000, 81 cases;

131: Rutland – 130.2 per 100,000, 52 cases;

169: Melton – 111.3 per 100,000, 57 cases;