SEVEN new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at south Essex hospitals, the latest official figures show.

Basildon Hospital reported six deaths and Southend reported one in the latest 24-hour reporting period.

NHS England figures show 385 people had died in hospital at Basildon Hospital as of 5pm on Wednesday.

That was an increase of six compared to Tuesday, when there were 379.

It means there have been 20 deaths in the past week, down from 25 the previous week.

Southend had its first coronavirus death in six days.

The latest NHS England figures show 259 people had died at Southend Hospital as of 5pm on Wednesday.

That was an increase of one compared to the 258 that had been recorded at the same point on Tuesday, and the first death in six days.

The victims were among 3,754 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.