MORE than 200 patients have recovered from coronavirus since the beginning of last month, the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has confirmed.

The Standard can reveal that the trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – has now discharged a total of 224 people between April 1 and May 19.

Since the last update a week ago, 38 patients who tested positive for the virus have left hospital after making a recovery.

On May 13 we reported how the Countess of Chester Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team had sent a touching video message to relatives unable to visit their loved ones, in which they promised to "hold their hand" and "always be by their side".

The trust said: "Our amazing team on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) have spent their free time during breaks, after work and at home filming this video.

"They wanted to let relatives of their patients know that they are there for their loved ones and will be that vital link between them whilst visiting is not possible due to social distancing."