Hospitals in Kent have reported 68 Covid-19 deaths - more than any other day since the pandemic began.

The latest figures mean that since January 1 the number of people recorded to have died in the county within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus is 643.

Today's update revealed another 31 patients had died at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust hospitals, 17 at East Kent Hospitals Trust, 12 at Medway Maritime Hospital, seven at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford and one person cared for by Kent Community Healthcare Trust.

While all the deaths were reported yesterday they happened at various points across the past few weeks.

It comes on the day that the UK recorded its highest daily Covid death toll, with 1,564 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

And the number of deaths in the UK since the pandemic began has been reported as having surpassed the 100,000 mark, although government statistics confirming the number are yet to be published.

Sadly, 3,205 people in Kent and Medway have died within 28 days of a positive test since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the number of cases have also soared in Kent this year, climbing from 88,914 on January 1 to 112,985 on January 13 - an increase of 24,071.

In Kent, there have been 91,431 cases and 2,657 deaths. Medway has confirmed 21,554 cases and 548 deaths in all settings.

The number of deaths is lower than early reports as the figures exclude people who tested positive more than 28 days before their death.

The majority of these deaths have happened in hospitals.

The first confirmed Covid-related death was at Medway Maritime Hospital, although another woman from the Towns claims her dad died in January with Covid-19.

In total, the trust has reported 611 deaths. This is higher than the total in the Towns because the hospital also serves Swale which has had a high number of cases.

East Kent Hospitals previously had difficulty containing the virus across its hospitals in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet during the first wave - leading to a damning CQC report. In total, 965 people have lost their lives with coronavirus at the trust.

Elsewhere, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has reported a total of 428 deaths.

At Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust (MTW), 292 people have died.

There have been 86 deaths reported by Kent Community Health Trust which predominantly looks after people in their homes.

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust has reported one death.

There have also now been three deaths at Sheppey Community Hospital and one at Dartford's Livingstone Community Hospital, which are managed by Virgin Care Services Ltd.

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