Almost 3,000 new cases of Covid confirmed in Wakefield and the Five Towns this month as hospital figures rise further

Almost 3,000 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the district this month, as vaccine rollout continues across Wakefield and the Five Towns. Photo: Scott Merrylees

At least 19,632 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the district to date, up from 16,634 at the end of December.

The rate of cases in the district has risen to 250 per 100,000.

And the number of patients receiving care for the virus from the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals, has risen to 254, up from 206 last week.

Jo Webster, Chief Officer at NHS Wakefield Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “As can be seen by the increase in numbers of Covid-19 patients currently being cared for by The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust compared to this time last week - now is the time to take action.

“We all need to stick to the national guidance to keep ourselves, our families and our communities safe. You can find out more about what you need to do on the NHS website.”

It comes as official figures reveal that more than 100,000 people in the UK have now died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

This includes at least 597 people in the Wakefield district.

And at least 827 patients have died at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust after testing positive for Covid-19, though this includes deaths for patients living in Dewsbury postcodes.

Two new Covid-19 vaccine centres have opened in Wakefield this week, as part of an effort to provide protection for the district's most vulnerable residents.