HOSPITALS in south Essex have reported two coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours.

Both Basildon and Southend hospital have reported one death each, the latest Government figures have revealed.

It means there have been six deaths in the past week in Southend, up from four the previous week, compared to 13 deaths in the past week, down from 15 the previous week.

NHS England figures show 407 people had died in hospital in Basildon, as of 5pm on Tuesday, with 268 coronavirus deaths recorded at Southend hospital.

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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.