Grim milestone for Sheffield as Covid-19 hospital deaths increase to 900

The latest NHS figures issued this afternoon show there have been a further three fatalities linked to the pandemic virus at the city’s hospitals, increasing the death toll to 900.

These are people who have died in the city’s hospitals and either tested positive for Covid-19 or where no positive test result was received but the virus was mentioned on their death certificate.

It comes after two consecutive days on which no new hospital deaths in Sheffield were reported.

Nationally, another 90 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 84,366.

Patients were aged between 34 and 97. All except three, aged between 54 and 87, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between January 17 and March 6, with the majority being on or after March 3.

There were 20 other deaths reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to remain ‘cautious’ in loosening coronavirus restrictions as pupils prepare to return to school for the first time in two months on Monday.

Despite an improving picture in terms of declining Covid cases in England, the Conservative Party leader said he wanted to be careful not to ‘undo the progress we have made’.

It comes as the vaccine programme continues to accelerate, with people aged between 56 and 59 being invited to book Covid-19 jabs this week.

Hundreds of thousands of letters for the age group began landing on doorsteps on Saturday, and the latest round of invites comes after eight in 10 people aged 65 to 69 took up the offer of a jab, NHS England said.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng provided further optimism when he told The Times it was ‘possible’ the Government will have offered a first dose to all adults by June – a month ahead of the current end of July target.

Across the whole of the UK, more than a million people have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, while almost 21.8 million people have had one dose.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.