Salisbury District Hospital has reached a "sad and sobering milestone" in its fight against Covid-19.

Three more patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total death toll since the pandemic began to 200.

The latest fatalities were a man in his 50s, a man in his 70s and a man in his 80s who died on Thursday February 25.

All had underlying health conditions.

A spokesperson from Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients’ families and loved ones at this very difficult and distressing time.

"The total number of patients that have died at Salisbury District Hospital after receiving a COVID-19 positive test result is now 200.

"This is a sad and sobering milestone and behind every one of these numbers are families and friends who are mourning a life cut short."

Newly-released figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the impact of the second wave which hospitals are battling through.

More deaths caused by coronavirus were reported in Salisbury last month than in any other month since the pandemic began.

The town with the highest death toll is Amesbury where 19 Covid deaths were recorded in January alone.

Despite the devastating impact of the virus, thanks to lockdown restrictions and the vaccine rollout, admissions have been declining.

It is also worth noting that a number of patients who are hospitalised because of Covid go on to recover and be discharged.

Those figures are not released but the hospital confirmed they are higher than the number of those who die.

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