Northampton General Hospital confirms first coronavirus death

Northampton's hospital has today confirmed to the media their first death related to coronavirus.

Mr Matthew Metcalfe, medical director for Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, said:

“Sadly we can confirm that a man who was being cared for at Northampton General Hospital, and had tested positive for COVID-19 has died.

"The patient, who was 92 years old, died on March 16, 2020.

"His family has been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.

"We continue to follow all the appropriate infection prevention and control guidance to provide safe and effective care to our patients."

Latest Public Health England figures show 12 reported cases in the county.

The first Northamptonshire coronavirus case was confirmed by the Department of Health on March 3 after a person had recently been to Italy, which is the most-affected country in Europe.

The 92-year-old man is the second confirmed death in Northamptonshire relating to the virus, after Craig Ruston, from Kettering, passed away on Monday at Kettering General Hospital.After a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization the hospital has restricted its visiting hours to one hour a day between 6pm and 7pm in most parts of the hospital, as of today (Wednesday, March 18).