MORE than 550 deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded in south Essex hospitals.

Figures released by NHS England this afternoon show there has been 305 deaths from the virus in Basildon Hospital, and 242 deaths recorded in Southend Hospital.

One death was recorded in Basildon on Thursday, and two in Southend.

There has been 17 deaths recorded at the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust in Runwell, bringing the total to 564 deaths.

No deaths were recorded in any hospital in the past 24 hours, but there were two in the East of England.

In England, the total number of deaths in hospitals has reached 28,940, with all patients aged between 53 and 98.

Their families have been informed.