Two new deaths of West Hertfordshire patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have been announced.

New figures published by NHS England shows patients passed away at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust on September 25 and on Wednesday (September 30).

The NHS data shows the patient who died on September 25 was over the age of 80 and they had a known underlying health condition.

Less precise information is known about the patient who died on Wednesday because they were among 29 deaths nationally that have been reported for this day.

The 29 deaths on Wednesday were among a total of 47 which the NHS was notified of within the latest 24 hour reporting period.

The 47 patients were aged between 51 and 97-years-old. All except two (aged 59 and 92) had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death range from September 26 to October 1, with the majority being on or after September 30.

The total death toll at West Hertfordshire NHS Trust of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 now stands at 376 and the Covid-19 death on September 25 was the first since September 6.

Yesterday, Hertfordshire County Council warned of a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Three Rivers district, particularly in the Croxley Green, Moor Park, Northwood, and South Oxhey areas.

Leader of Three Rivers District Council, Cllr Sarah Nelmes, said all age groups had been affected by the latest outbreak.

Figures on the government’s coronavirus dashboard show there have been 46 cases in Three Rivers between September 22 and 29.

To put that into context, the dashboard shows 53 cases in Three Rivers between September 1 and 21.

Cllr Nelmes and Cllr Tim Hutchings, cabinet member for public health at Hertfordshire County Council, said in a joint statement yesterday: “We can confirm that COVID-19 infection rates in the district of Three Rivers have been rising, particularly in Croxley Green, Moor Park and Northwood, and South Oxhey, with all age groups affected so we need residents to carefully follow the government’s guidance to minimise the risks of spreading the virus any further and to keep communities safe.

"That means continuing to play your part by wearing face-coverings where expected, washing your hands regularly, observing social-distancing and keeping to the ‘rule of six’.

"It’s vitally important we all work together, to stop the number of cases rising in the district, if we are to avoid tougher measures being introduced.

"If you think that you may have come into contact with someone with COVID-19, you should self-isolate for 14 days. If you have some of the coronavirus symptoms, you should call 119 or book a test at www.gov.uk/coronavirus."

Watford Observer:

Areas in blue are where a minimum of three and maximum of nine cases were found between September 22 and 28. Source: Gov.uk

Hertsmere, which suffered a substantial outbreak of Covid-19 in late August and early September, was taken off Public Health England’s national Covid-19 watchlist yesterday after a considerable drop in the number of cases.

The weekly rate of new cases, which was as high as 60 in early September, has more than halved – although there have been 14 new cases between September 29 and 30.

The weekly rate of cases in Watford is stable with 33 cases since September 22. No specific warnings have been issued by public health issues to Watford residents – but they are asked to follow the national guidelines on social distancing and public health.

St Albans District Council leader Chris White confirmed this week St Albans has been taken off the ‘red flag’ list.

The district was not on Public Health England’s watchlist but it was being monitored after a prolonged period of regular daily cases.

There have been 63 cases in the St Albans district since September 22, according to the dashboard, but the district has a population of around 50,000 more than each of Watford, Hertsmere, and Three Rivers.