IT'S now 11 days since the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust last reported the death of a patient testing positive for coronavirus.

NHS England data released this afternoon (July 31) shows that, as of 4pm yesterday, the total number of deaths registered by the trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – once again remained at 227.

It means the Countess has not reported any additional deaths for 11 consecutive days – and only once in the last 16.

The last death occurred on July 18, which was announced by the trust two days later.

The Cheshire hospital death toll stands at 722 with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recording 213, East Cheshire NHS Trust 146, and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 136.

As of 6.49pm yesterday, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Cheshire West and Chester stood at 2,037 – a rise of four cases in 24 hours.

Across England, further nine people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,338.

Patients were aged between 73 and 92 years-old, and all had known underlying health conditions apart from one (aged 75).

The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows:

  • Midlands - 1
  • North East & Yorkshire - 4
  • North West - 2
  • South East - 2

Today, five deaths have been reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

*NHS England: The total announced file is updated daily and contains information on the deaths of patients who have died in hospitals in England and either tested positive for COVID-19 or where no positive test result was received for COVID-19, but COVID-19 was mentioned on their death certificate. All deaths are recorded against the date of death rather than the day the deaths were announced.