EIGHT more coronavirus deaths have been recorded in a 24-hour period by the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust, according to latest figures.

NHS England statistics show that, as of 5pm yesterday (April 7), the trust – which covers both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port Hospital sites – has now recorded a total of 27 deaths.

It means the number of recorded deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus has risen by eight in a 24-hour period. The figures also show that a total of six deaths were recorded on April 6 alone.

The death toll in Cheshire had risen to 89 – an increase of 15 in the space of a day – with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recording the most deaths with 29.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have recorded 20 while East Cheshire NHS Trust has recorded 13.

In England, a further 828 hospital patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths to 6,483.

Patients were aged between 22 and 103 years-old. Of the 828 patients, a total of 46 _ aged between 35 and 96 years-old – had no known underlying health condition.