Two new coronavirus deaths announced over weekend within Morecambe Bay hospitals trust

Both deaths were announced on Saturday, May 2, with zero on Sunday May 3 for the fourth time last week, bringing the total across the trust to 149.

This is an increase of seven since last Monday morning, April 27, when the total across the trust was 142.

A further update from the trust via NHS England is expected this afternoon.

The way deaths are announced nationally has now changed, and as a result only trust-wide figures are being released by NHS England.

The trust includes the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal and Furness General Hospital in Barrow, although WGH is being kept as a non-Covid site.

There is a delay in reporting the figures which means that each death is not reported by the NHS on the following day.

The statistics include patients who died in hospital - but not other places, such as care homes.

As of this morning, Monday May 4, 268 people had been discharged from hospital after recovering from Covid-19 within the trust.

Health chiefs across Morecambe Bay are urging people not to put off getting help when they need it.

The message is: “we’re open, let us help you”.

There is a worry that people are putting themselves or their loved ones at risk by not seeking urgent help when it’s needed.