Doncaster coronavirus death toll reaches 34 as national figure nears 10,000

Newly released NHS figures show there have now been 34 COVID-19 deaths in the Doncaster hospitals trust area – which includes Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital and Worksop’s Bassetlaw Hospital.

There have been a totak of 192 cases and the latest death toll is an increase of three on the last 24 hour reporting period.

Across South Yorkshire, there have been a total of 15 newly reported deaths,

In Sheffield the number of fatalities is up nine to 98, while in Barnsley there have now been 40 deaths, an increase of two.

In Rotherham, there have been 24 deaths, up one on yesterday.

Across the UK there were 710 deaths – a drop on yesterday’s figure, but it is thought that because of the Easter bank holiday period and a delay in reporting the latest figures, the total may not accurately reflect the actual number of fatalaties.

There have now been a total of 9,594 deaths across the UK from the coronavirus pandemic.

In other news, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released from hospital in London and is now recuperating at Chequers after spending three days in intensive care this week after his own coronavirus symptoms worsened.

In Doncaster, two of the victims have been named.

Kevin Smith, a plaster technician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and musician and guitarist Paul Piercy, a member of Doncaster rock band Stafford Galli have both died from coronavirus.

Comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor has also died from Covid-19, his agent said.