Two more Covid deaths as total at Doncaster NHS trusts rises to 75

It takes the total deaths recorded in the NHS trusts based in Doncaster to 75, with 74 deaths now recorded by the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, and one by the Balby based Rotherham Doncaster, and South Humber NHS trust.

The figures do not include any deaths in care homes or the community.

Previous figures have seen a total of 326 cases recorded across the DBH trust’s three hospitals which include Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital and Worksop’s Bassetlaw Hospital.

More than 20,000 people have now died with coronavirus in UK hospitals, the Department of Health has announced.

The latest figures showed a total of 20,319 deaths in the UK, up by 813 on the previous day.

In Doncaster, the victims have included two members of staff at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary

Kevin Smith, a plaster technician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, died over the Easter weekend from coronavirus, and last week it was announced that Dr Medhat Atalla, a consultant geriatrician, has died at the hospital after having treatment for the virus.

The death toll caused by the illness has also included the musician and guitarist Paul Piercy, a member of the well-known Doncaster rock band Stafford Galli.

Earlier this week, health secretary Matt Hancock said he was confident the country was at the peak but stressed that continued social distancing was needed to bring the number of new cases down.