THE first coronavirus death in four days has been recorded at Basildon and Thurrock Trust, the latest figures show.

NHS England figures show 315 people had died in hospital at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday (October 15).

That was an increase of one compared to the 314 that had been recorded at the same point on Wednesday, and the first death in four days.

The victims were among 3,485 deaths recorded across the East of England.

Of 23 trusts within the region, Basildon and Thurrock trust has the third-highest death toll.

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.