Doncaster coronavirus death toll remains static as South Yorkshire passes grim milestone

Figures newly released by the NHS this afternoon show that the number of COVID-19 deaths in the Doncaster region stands at 74 – the same figure as yesterday.

There have been 372 cases of coronavirus in the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Foundation area.

That includes Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital and Worksop’s Bassetlaw Hospital.

However, the figures do not include deaths in the community or care homes and the figures are thought to be much higher.

Across South Yorkshire, there have now been a total of 410 deaths.

Sheffield has seen the most, with 1,901 cases and 185 deaths.

In Rotherham, there have been 589 cases and 89 deaths while in Barnsley there have been 544 cases with 62 deaths.

There is sometimes a delay in recording deaths – and recent fatalities may not be included in the latest totals.

Yesterday, the UK became the fifth country in the world to record more than 20,000 deaths from coronavirus, with the USA, Italy, Spain and France the other countries to record the grim milestone.

The deaths at Doncaster Royal Infirmary include two NHS workers.

Plaster technician Kevin Smith was the region’s first NHS worker to die from coronavirus, while last week, the death of consultant Dr Medhat Atalla was announced by the Trust.

The number of confirmed deaths in England stands at 18,420.