Definite slowdown in numbers of new Covid-19 patients in Northamptonshire hospitals

The number of new patients with Covid-19 in Northamptonshire’s two main hospitals is following a "very definite trend" downwards nationwide.

Staff at Northampton General and Kettering General hospitals have now seen 223 victims die after testing positive for the deadly bug.

Yet the two NHS Trusts received 39 new cases over four days up to 9am Sunday (April 26).

That compares with 234 during a similar four-day period before Easter, between April 5 and 8.

The slowdown comes as the daily number of victims dying in UK hospitals hit a low not seen since 31 March.

NHS boss Stephen Powis told yesterday's Downing Street briefing: "We now have a very definite trend in a reduced number of people in hospitals.

"That is most marked in London but I think you can also see that in the Midlands and the beginnings in other areas of the UK.

"That is definitely showing that our compliance with social distancing is proving to be beneficial. It is reducing the transmission and spread of the virus."

The proportion of critical care beds taken by Covid-19 patients in hospitals is also starting to slide.

Mr Powis added: "The core message is really to continue to comply. By getting the infection rate down, will get us in the best position for track and trace."

Department for Health officials yesterday reported another 413 coronavirus-related hospital deaths .

It is the smallest one-day numerical increase in since 381 were victims announced on 31 March.

Of those, two were in Northamptonshire — both at Kettering General Hospital.

The official total of coronavirus-related victims in UK hospitals was 20,732 with 223 in Northamptonshire’s two acute hospitals when data was collated at 5pm on Saturday. Updated figures are due to be published at 2pm today but do not include those who died in care homes or in the community.

Many experts warn against focusing on daily figures and advise analysts to study weekly trends for a truer picture. Also, weekend figures tend to be lower due to delays in reporting.

The Government plans to roll out an NHS track and tace app to help ease the lockdown, which is about to enter a sixth week.

Smartphone users will be able to download the app and opt-in to record their symptoms if they start to feel unwell. A warning alert is then sent to others who they have been in close contact with

If a person is then confirmed to have been infected by coronavirus, a red signal will be sent to other app users they have been in close contact with.

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