THE Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has recorded three additional coronavirus deaths in the latest 24-hour period, according to NHS England data.

Figures released this afternoon (May 21) show that, as of 5pm yesterday, the trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – has now recorded 156 deaths.

The data shows that the deaths of the three patients who tested positive for the virus occurred on May 14, 17 and 19.

The Standard revealed on Tuesday that more than 200 coronavirus patients had been discharged since the start of April.

The Cheshire Hospital death toll now stands at 543 – a daily increase of eight deaths compared to three yesterday.

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded the most deaths with 164, followed by the Countess (156), Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (114) and East Cheshire NHS Trust (109).

There are now 3,256 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the county, with Cheshire West and Chester reporting 1,020, Cheshire East (1,127), Halton (377) and Warrington (732).

Across England, a further 187 people – up from 166 yesterday – who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 25,266.

Patients were aged between 14 and 98 years-old. A total of six of the 187 patients were aged between 46 and 94, and had no known underlying health condition.

Today, 32 deaths are reported with no positive COVID-19 test result.