Hastings saw largest UK increase in Covid deaths between first and second waves

The statistics, which have been confirmed by East Sussex County Council, showed Hastings recorded six deaths between March 28 and April 24, 2020 – the first wave of Covid-19 deaths in the UK.

However, in January – when the UK saw a second wave of Covid-19 deaths – the town recorded 116 deaths, more than 19 times the amount recorded during the first wave – a 1,833.33 per cent increase between the two waves.

Darrell Gale, director of public health at East Sussex County Council, said a reason for the increased death rate during the second wave may have been because the town was dealing with a ‘completely different virus’ to that seen in the spring.

The variant, first spotted in Kent, was found to be spreading in Hastings and data suggested the gap between a positive test and hospitalisation was ‘much shorter’.

Darrell Gale said: “It is so important to remember, when we are looking at statistics, that every number represents a person and our sympathies go to the family and friends of all those who have lost their lives to this dreadful virus. Our thanks must also go to our NHS colleagues who are working tirelessly to save lives in such terrible circumstances.

“Hastings experienced extremely low infection rates during the first wave of the pandemic, remaining well below the national average for much of last year. The second wave has been like a completely different virus; it is so transmissible that it took seed in town almost overnight and we saw an exponential rise over a very short period of time. At the same time, the gap between an increase in positive tests and an increase in hospitalisation was suddenly much shorter.”

According to Public Health England, a total of 231 have died in Hastings within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.

The town saw a significant increase in the number of cases during December which caused it to be placed in stricter tiers – along with Rother – than the rest of the county.

While the rest of East and West Sussex were in tier 2, Hastings and Rother were placed in tier 3. And just before Christmas, the two areas were placed under tier 4 restrictions before the rest of the county were added on Boxing Day.

Mr Gale added: “While we must never forget that now, more than 116 people have lost their lives due to Covid during the second wave of the pandemic, the number of deaths in the first wave was extremely low meaning any rise will show a greater proportional impact.

“While we expect socio-economic factors in the town contributed to low infection rates in the first wave, we believe this did not help in the second.”

Mr Gale said his team will look at the reasons for the different rates in Hastings and ‘learn what part health, socio-economic factors, travel and infrastructure played’.

However, he did not blame the residents of the town for the increased spread in Hastings during the second wave.

“One thing we can be certain of is that people in Hastings, as in the rest of the county, did their best to slow the spread of the virus; changing their behaviour and following the guidance in place,” he said.

“It’s clear from the lack of a significant rise in infection rates after Christmas that people changed their festive plans in order to protect the more vulnerable members of the community. As we continue to deal with the more transmissible virus, I would encourage people to continue to follow the guidance and remember face, hands, space, and, especially as we have half-term holidays, to remember we are still in lockdown and sadly households should not be mixing.”