Medics admit they are puzzled why Northamptonshire remains a Covid-19 hotspot

Number of patients going into hospital is increasing in some areas, warns county GP
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Doctors are warning Northamptonshire is still a hotspot for Covid-19 fresh cases.

Numbers for new infections in the county remain in double-digits each day and are not going down as quickly as in other areas of the UK.

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And county GP Joanne Watt revealed she has even seen increases in Covid-19 patients being admitted to local hospitals.

Hospitals at Northampton and Kettering have seen an alarming rise in Covid-19 patientsHospitals at Northampton and Kettering have seen an alarming rise in Covid-19 patients
Hospitals at Northampton and Kettering have seen an alarming rise in Covid-19 patients

Dr Watt admitted: “Unfortunately, we are not seeing the fall in cases that other areas are experiencing.

"Indeed there is evidence of static case numbers in the community and an increase in some areas of Covid-19 cases being admitted to hospital.

“It’s unclear why we are seeing a different pattern of infection in Northamptonshire when other areas of the UK are starting to see a decrease.

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"But what we must do is try to reduce the transmission as quickly as possible. It’s therefore vitally important that people continue to follow the lockdown rules and adhere to the social distancing guidance as well as ensuring good hand hygiene.

County GP Joanne WattCounty GP Joanne Watt
County GP Joanne Watt

"This will help to reduce further spread across the county and keep the infection rate low in order to protect those most at risk, prevent outbreaks which can overwhelm health services and to save lives.

“Our hospitals are well prepared for any increase in admissions but we really want to avoid people catching the virus in the first place.

"So we must continue to socially distance even though some lockdown measures have now been relaxed."

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Northamptonshire has now seen 1,542 positive coronavirus tests, as at 9am yesterday morning (Wednesday June 4) — a rise of 14 in the previous 24 hours.

And 17 deaths related to Covid-19 recorded at Northampton General Hospital last week were more than in the previous two seven-day periods.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson eased lockdown restrictions in recent weeks, allowing people to go out and mix more.

More shops and takeaways are opening and some children returned to primary schools this week.

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The PM says the rate of infection across the UK has fallen enough to allow the easing, although some experts believe he may have moved too soon.

But Cllr Ian Morris, Portfolio holder for Adults, Communities and Public Health at Northamptonshire County Council admitted: “Just because more people can now meet up in gardens and parks it doesn’t mean that you have to.

"The virus has not gone away and there are clearly things we all still need to do to help limit the spread of the disease.

“The more people mix, the more the virus can spread.

"The less physical interaction there is between households, then the less the virus can spread.

"So we are still encouraging people to stay at home as much as possible."