THREE more people have died from Covid-19 at Basildon Hospital in the last 24 hours.

NHS England figures show 323 people had died in hospital at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (October 21).

That was an increase of three compared to Tuesday, when there were 320.

It means there have been nine deaths in the past week, up from three the previous week.

The victims were among 3,516 deaths recorded across the East of England.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: "Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure."

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.