FIVE more positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the latest 24-hour recording period in west Cheshire.

Figures on the Government website show that, as of 4pm on August 31, there have now been a total of 2,147 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Cheshire West and Chester borough since the pandemic began.

The rate of cases being recorded in the area has risen slightly since the start of August, at about 25-30 positive cases per week, compared with the lowest point of 19 cases from August 8-14.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's NHS England update the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust once again reported no additional deaths of patients testing positive for coronavirus.

The last death registered by the trust – which covers the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – was on July 18.

A total of 227 deaths have been recorded by the trust.

The Cheshire hospital death toll stands at 725.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded 213 deaths, the last on July 11; East Cheshire NHS Trust 146 (last recorded July 22), and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 139 (last recorded August 24).

Across England, a further four people who tested positive for coronavirus had died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,554.

The patients were between 58 and 75 years old, and all had known underlying health conditions.

Two of the four deaths were recorded from June.