NEARLY 300 people have successfully recovered from coronavirus across Morecambe Bay, new figures have revealed.

The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust, which manages Furness General Hospital, Westmorland General in Kendal and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, has reported that since February 296 people have been discharged home from their hospitals after being treated for coronavirus.

The trust has also conducted 9,617 swab tests on staff and their household members, inpatients, care home residents and staff and other key workers.

No new deaths were reported within the Trust’s hospitals yesterday. The total number of deaths is 156.

However there is still concern about Cumbria’s care homes.

ONS figures show that in the week ending May 1, 87 people had died in Cumbrian care homes. This was 40 per cent higher than the previous week.

Nationally care home deaths are beginning to decline.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health said: “The picture in hospitals is looking very good. Things have stabilised at a low level of cases and deaths on a daily basis.

“However as we come into a new phase of the response to COVID-19 there are some concerns about the way in which releasing lockdown runs the risk of there being a second wave.

“We need to be very careful and vigilant about that not happening.”

On the matter of care homes Mr Cox said: “Deaths in care homes are still a concern for us.

“It does feel as if in most of the care homes we have been working with outbreaks are now under control.

“Because people can be ill for a long time before they recover or die I think we will still see a number of deaths in Cumbrian care homes from previous outbreaks, rather than new outbreaks.”

Mr Cox felt positive about the county’s progress so far but has warned against people becoming complacent.

“The county’s progress is positive, but it is fragile,” he said. “We cannot take our eye off the ball, the virus is still out there.

“It’s still circulating and it could come roaring back if we let it.

“It’s really important that people still continue to follow social distancing guidelines and don’t start to think that because the government is easing things that you can relax,” he said.