THERE have been further Covid-related deaths at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight, according figures published by NHS England.

Data released today (Sunday) reveals five more deaths have been recorded at the hospital ­— all on Friday, January 8.

It means 14 Covid patients have now died at the hospital this month.

The only other month to record more deaths than January is April. A total of eight people died in December.

These new figures take the total number of Covid-related deaths in hospital on the Isle of Wight to 70. A further 51 in the community take the Island's total to 121.

It comes at a time when the hospital is under more pressure from the virus than ever before.

Yesterday, new data revealed Isle of Wight Covid-19 levels are among highest in country.

Only 29 lower tier local authorities in the UK have a higher infection rate per 100,000 population.

MP Bob Seely says he has been assured St Mary's Hospital still has capacity for new Covid patients.

On Tuesday, chief executive of the IW NHS Trust, Maggie Oldham, said there were up to 60 Covid patients in St Mary's.

The government records information on patients who have died in English hospitals within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, or where Covid-19 was mentioned on a death certificate.