No new Covid-19 deaths recorded at Morecambe Bay hospitals in last three weeks

The number of positive coronavirus cases recorded across the Lancaster district remains low, with two new cases recorded on September 8 bringing the total number of positive cases recorded to 938.

New government restrictions will come into effect on Monday September 14, preventing groups of more than six people meeting up either indoors or outdoors, until further notice.

A Covid-19 mobile testing unit is also due to return to Lancaster next week.

There have been some frustrations within the community that people are having to travel as far away as Blackburn, Preston and Penrith to get a test.

The government's mobile testing centre will be on Nelson Street Car Park on September 15 and 16, and September 23 and 24.

At any other time people are being advised to apply for a home testing kit, or visit a testing centre elsewhere.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “NHS Test and Trace is working, our capacity is the highest it has ever been and our laboratories are processing more than a million tests a week.

“We are seeing a significant demand for tests but if you have symptoms we urge you to get tested.

"New booking slots and homes testing kits are made available daily and you can help protect yourself if you wash your hands, cover your face and make space.

“We are targeting testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, as well as prioritising at-risk groups and we recently announced new laboratory facilities and new technology to process results even faster.”

The last death within hospitals run by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust was recorded on August 18, and was one of only two deaths recorded in August according to the latest figures from Public Health England.

The total number of people who have died after testing positive for Covid-19 stands at 171 at hospitals across Morecambe Bay - which include the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital in Barrow.

The figures do not include deaths within the community or in nursing homes.

Neil Jack, chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum's regional co-ordination group for testing, said: "The Department for Health and Social Care provides two Regional Testing Sites, one in Preston and one in Blackburn.

"They also provide six Mobile Testing Units, which the Lancashire Resilience Forum can direct, based on assessments from the Directors of Public Health.

"The LRF is prioritising areas with the highest case numbers in Lancashire, while also seeking to provide capacity across Lancashire.

"Current national laboratory capacity means that the DHSC has limited access to testing at the RTUs and MTUs, reducing the number of available slots.

"We are working with them to try to access more laboratory capacity for Lancashire."