MORE than 400 Cheshire hospital patients who tested positive for coronavirus have now sadly died, according to the latest NHS England data.

Figures released this afternoon (May 1) show that, as of 5pm yesterday, the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust had recorded a further three deaths in 24 hours.

The trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – has now registered a total of 128 deaths.

The Cheshire hospital death toll now stands at 406 – a daily reporting increase of 17 compared to 11 the previous day – with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recording the second highest amount with 116.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded 86, while the East Cheshire NHS Trust figure stands at 76.

There are now 2,534 confirmed cases of coronavirus across Cheshire, with Cheshire West and Chester recording 777, Cheshire East (851), Warrington (594), and Halton (312).

Across England, a further 352 people – down from 391 yesterday – who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 20,483.

Patients were aged between 30 and 103 years-old. A total of 18 of the 352 patients were aged between 43 and 98 years-old, and had no known underlying health condition.

Today, 21 deaths are reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.