FIFTEEN people have died from Covid-19 in hospitals in south Essex within a day.

Nine new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at Basildon Hospital in the latest 24-hour period, while six were recorded at Southend Hospital.

NHS England figures show 593 people had died in hospital at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday.

That was an increase of nine compared to Monday, when there were 584.

It means there have been 68 deaths in the past week, up from 42 the previous week.

The figures show 410 people had died in hospital at Southend Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday.

That was an increase of six compared to Monday, when there were 404.

It means there have been 45 deaths in the past week, up from 36 the previous week.

The victims were among 5,456 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.