MORE than 600 poeple have now died from Covid-19 in Basildon Hospital, new figures show.

The NHS England data also shows almost a dozen people died from the virus in the latest 24 hour period in Southend Hospital.

The figures show 603 people had died in hospital at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday (January 7).

That was an increase of six compared to Wednesday, when there were 597.

It means there have been 60 deaths in the past week, up from 44 the previous week.

The figures also show 450 people had died in hospital at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday.

That was an increase of 10 compared to Wednesday, when there were 440.

It means there have been 79 deaths in the past week, up from 15 the previous week.

The victims were among 5,659 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.