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

Figures released this afternoon (May 22) show that, as of 5pm yesterday (May 21), the trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – has now recorded 158 deaths.

The data shows that the deaths of the two patients who tested positive for the virus both occurred on May 20.

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 548 – a daily increase of five deaths compared to eight yesterday.

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded the most deaths with 165, followed by the Countess (158), Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (114) and East Cheshire NHS Trust (111).

There are now 3,285 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the county, with Cheshire West and Chester reporting 1,035, Cheshire East (1,132), Halton (380) and Warrington (738).

Across England, a further 121 people – down from 187 yesterday – who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 25,387.

Patients were aged between 41 and 98 years old. A total of three of the 121 patients were aged between 50 and 91, and had no known underlying health condition.

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