NO new deaths have occurred at Cumbrian hospitals for over a week as a result of Coronavirus (Covid-19), NHS figures suggest.

Data released and updated by NHS England indicate there having been no fresh Covid-19 fatalities at the three hospital trusts in the county for over seven days.

According to the latest statistics provided by the health service, neither of the two NHS trusts in the county have recorded a new death directly related to the virus in almost ten days.

The last recorded death at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) was more than a week ago, on Friday May 15.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19-related deaths at UHMBT still stands at 159, while the total for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) remains 146.

UHMBT runs Furness General Hospital on the edge of Barrow and Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal, among other health centres.

Meanwhile, NCIC manages the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital.

The North-East-based Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Carleton Clinic in Carlisle, has reported no new deaths for several weeks.

However, a UHMBT spokesman last week cautioned against jumping too hastily to conclusions as a result of the health service data.

He said that, as the figures are being updated retrospectively and the criteria continues to change, it is not possible to categorically say no Covid-19 deaths have occurred on the dates given by NHS England.

NHS England has also confirmed that its figures do not cover care home deaths in the country - despite promises it would begin to include the data in the daily statistical updates.

Analysts also warn of a ‘weekend lag’ as the increase in deaths announced on Sunday was the lowest 24-hour increase the UK has seen since March.

A further 147 people in England who were confirmed as having tested positive for the virus died yesterday.

This brought the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in the country to 25,691.

The overall number of deaths in the UK rose to 36,793 people as of yesterday.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in the 24-hour period leading up to 9am yesterday, 110,401 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 2,409 positive results.

DHSC officials say a total of 3,458,905 tests have been carried out and 259,559 cases have been confirmed positive.