Coronavirus deaths fell significantly in mid-May, new government figures show.

In the week ending Friday, May 22, nine deaths in Swindon were linked to coronavirus, according to the Office for National Statistics

They included six deaths in care homes – up from two the previous week. Three people died in hospital, down from five the week before. 

The death toll is down significantly from the peak in mid-April, when 34 people died in one week including 19 in the town’s care homes.

In Wiltshire, 20 people lost their lives to coronavirus in the week ending May 22, down from around 50 per week in April. 

There was no change announced to the Covid-19 death toll at Great Western Hospital yesterday. 118 people who tested positive for the virus have died at the Marlborough Road hospital. The last lost their life on May 30, according to NHS England.