Three further deaths among Covid patients in north Cumbria's hospitals have been reported today.

Figures released today by NHS England confirm a further three deaths among Covid-19 patients across north Cumbria's hospitals.

Two deaths occured on Wednesday, and a third occured yesterday, across hospitals run by the North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Trust.

NHS England figures show that in the seven days prior to today, a total of 19 people with Covid-19 have died across north Cumbria's hospitals.

The total number of deaths among Covid-19 positive patients across the trust since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 309.

A further five deaths were also reported today across the running hospitals in south Cumbria, the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.

Cases across the county still remain high, with one areas infection rate exceeding 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

Carlisle's seven-day infection rate currently stands at 1,079.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Eden's seven-day rate is the second highest in the county at 691 cases per 100,000 people.

The cases for the last seven days per 100,000 people for each area is as follows:

  • Allerdale - 680.2
  • Barrow - 599.6
  • Carlisle - 1,079.3
  • Copeland - 547.1
  • Eden - 691
  • South Lakes - 335

Cumbria has experienced it worst week so far for new Covid-19 infections, with 3,489 people testing positive in the week ending 8 January – a 39 per cent rise on the previous week.

Hospitals remain under intense pressure, particularly in the north of the county where there has been a 63 per cent increase in the number of Covid-19 patients since last week. There are now around 270 people being treated in north Cumbrian hospitals.

The total number of people with at least one positive Covid-19 test result (either lab-reported or lateral flow device) since the start of the pandemic in each area:

  • Allerdale - 3,270
  • Barrow - 3,073
  • Carlisle - 6,181
  • Copeland - 2,036
  • Eden - 2,289
  • South Lakes - 3,517