THERE has been another increase in the number of Covid patients who have died at St Mary's Hospital.

Today, new data released by NHS England reveals there have been two more Covid-related deaths at the Newport hospital ­— one on Sunday, January 10, and another on Monday.

It means 75 Islanders have now died in hospital since records began. The Island's toll, in January alone, stands at 19.

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

A further 52 Islanders have also died in the community ­— at home, in a care home or in a hospice.

In the UK, 1,564 deaths were reported today — the biggest daily increase since the start of the pandemic. 

Yesterday, a further 84 positive Covid cases were recorded ­— one of the lowest daily totals in January.

Today, another 170 cases took the Isle of Wight's total to 4,572.

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.