Deaths from virus top 100 in Scarborough
Deaths in Scarborough, Filey and Whitby rose sharply as the coronavirus crisis took hold, new figures show.
Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show there was a 49 per cent increase in the number of deaths in the borough during April.
The average deaths for the area for April over the last five years has been 118 – but this year that figure rose by 58 to 176.
The number of people who have so far died who tested positive for coronavirus reported by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is 210. The Trust says 80 of those were in Scarborough and 130 were in York.
The number of deaths are up from the 79 in Scarborough and 126 in York reported last week. But the trust says it is currently seeing a reduction in Covid-19 patients being admitted and has been able to reduce the number of beds dedicated to people with the virus as a consequence.
A Trust spokesperson said: “We are accustomed to continually reviewing capacity to make best use of resources and reacting quickly to a changing situation.
“Additional critical care facilities were provided across several areas in the Trust as the number of patients with Covid-19 rose, and wards were identified for treating Covid and non-Covid patients.
“These are now being reorganised and consolidated to manage the reduction in numbers of Covid-19 patients and to sustain the capacity for non-Covid patients.
“We continue to provide care for Covid-19 patients in Scarborough Hospital.”
Up until Sunday, the Trust had discharged 461 patients who tested Covid-19 positive from its hospitals to continue their recovery.
The latest mortality figures by the ONS show that, up to May 22, 29 Covid-19 related deaths have happened in the local authority of Scarborough outside the hospital – 24 in care homes, three at home and two in a hospice.
The latest Government figures show there are 305 confirmed coronavirus cases in Scarborough.
Nationally, the number of people dying each week linked to coronavirus has dropped to its lowest levels since March.