Covid death toll rises to 144

TWO people from West Berkshire died with coronavirus registered on their death certificate in the last week.

One death occurred in a hospital and the other was at home, taking the total number of coronavirus deaths in the district to 144.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released on Tuesday records the number of deaths involving coronavirus, based on any mention of Covid-19 on the death certificate in the week ending November 20, with the death registered up to November 28.

The ONS data shows that 70 people from West Berkshire have died with coronavirus in hospitals, 65 in care homes, seven at home, one death recorded as elsewhere and one in a hospice.

The first coronavirus death in the district occurred in hospital and was reported in the week ending March 20, three days before the first lockdown began.

As of Tuesday, the cumulative number of coronavirus cases in West Berkshire was 1,678 – an increase of 86 in a week.

The seven-day rolling rate for the district per 100,000 population to November 25 was 58.1, with 92 cases recorded in the seven days up to November 25.

The rolling rate is one indicator to determine whether a local authority area will change tier, with a rate below 100 a requirement for Tier 1.

In neighbouring Basingstoke and Deane, seven people died with coronavirus recorded on their death certificate in the last week.

All seven people died in hospital, taking the total number of deaths in the borough up to 134.

Of the 134 people who have died, 93 died in hospitals, 35 in care homes, three in hospices, two at home and one in ‘another communal establishment’.