Covid claims lives of eight patients at city trust

More than 151 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sunderland and eight more patients have died at the city’s NHS trust.

The UK recorded its deadliest day in the coronavirus pandemic yesterday, as the Government’s chief scientific adviser warned parts of the NHS were like a “war zone”.

A record 1,820 further deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported as of Wednesday, although there is a time lag between a patient dying and appearing in the statistics.

NHS England confirmed yesterday a further 1,027 people, who tested positive for coronavirus, have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 63,322.

Patients were aged between 29 and 101. All except 49, who were aged 37 to 99, had known underlying health conditions.

Deaths are recorded as Covid-19 related where a person has died within 28 days of a positive test.

Across the UK yesterday, it was announced that 38,905 more people have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 3,505,754.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust announced eight deaths yesterday, bringing the total number of deaths at the trust to 740.

In Sunderland, there were 151 new cases yesterday. According to Public Health England, the total number of cases since March is 17,195.

Sunderland’s weekly case rate for the seven days up to January 15, is 420.6 per 100,000.

The total number of cases recorded in the seven days up to January 15, is 1,168.