NORTH Cumbria's two main hospitals have reported 15 Covid-19 deaths in five days.

According to the latest data from NHS England, the NHS trust which runs The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven is continuing to see regular covid fatalities, with 35 deaths reported in the last two weeks.

Eleven of the most recent deaths were confirmed in the last 24 hours. Since the pandemic began, North Cumbria Integrated Care Foundation Trust has reported 369 covid deaths.

More than 90 of those deaths have happened since January 1.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust, which manages Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Westmorland General in Kendal, and a major hospital in Lancashire, has now reported 501 Covid deaths, 30 of which were over the last seven days.

The worst day for deaths for that trust was January 27, when 11 fatalities were reported.

Infection rates in the county are still above the England average in most areas. The national average infection rate is currently 294 per 100,000.

Over the last week, according to Government data, the number of new cases confirmed for each Cumbrian local authority area and the case rates per 100,000 is as follows:

* Carlisle: 409 (376 per 100,000)

* Allerdale: 327 (334 per 100,000)

* Copeland: 162 (237 per 100,000)

* Barrow: 194 (289 per 100,000).

* Eden: 155 (217 per 100,000)

* South Lakeland: 196 (186 per 100,000).

Public health experts say that virtually all of Cumbria's Covid-19 cases are being caused by the new variant.