TWO more people have died with coronavirus in Oxford over the last week.

A total of 206 people had died in the area when the UK coronavirus daily dashboard was updated on Wednesday (July 6) – up from 204 on Friday last week.

They were among 23,288 deaths recorded across the South East. This comes as the UK's public health body moves to weekly reporting of data around the virus.

The UK Health Security Agency is now reporting the latest coronavirus statistics weekly, in line with typical schedules for other respiratory infections as a part of the Government's Living with Covid strategy.

READ MORE: Oxford hospitals bring back restrictions as covid cases rise

The figures include anyone who died within 28 days of a positive test result for Covid-19, and whose usual residence was in Oxford.

A total of 157,338 deaths were recorded throughout England by Wednesday, up from 157,037 on Friday.

Meanwhile, the number of beds at Oxford University Hospitals occupied by people who tested positive for covid more than tripled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 42.

As of Tuesday, the trust was caring for 153 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for covid by 8am on Tuesday was up from 89 on the same day the previous week.

The figures also show that 136 new Covid patients were admitted to one of the hospitals in the trust in the week to July 3. This was up from 66 in the previous seven days.

READ MORE: Number of Oxfordshire GPs on the rise despite national shortage

On Tuesday, Oxford Health reintroduced mask wearing as cases in the county continue to rise.

The number of covid cases in Oxford went from 450 to 470 in one week. 

Masks are now mandatory in all their clinical areas, including wards, minor injury and first aid units, outpatient clinics and out of hours services.

Oxford University Hospitals also published new guidance around wearing face masks in their buildings starting from today.

 

 

Their patients must wear masks in the following areas and under certain conditions:

• if they have symptoms of covid, or have tested positive for covid

• if they have symptoms of a respiratory illness

•  in clinical areas, such as wards.

They said patients do not have to wear masks in other areas, but are encouraged to do so, while visitors must wear masks in all clinical areas.

Across England there were 11,049 people in hospital with Covid as of July 5, with 229 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has more than doubled in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 97 per cent.

 

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi