A FURTHER 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been recorded for the Cheshire West and Chester area in the latest daily reporting period, according to Government data.

The increase in the 24-hour period up to 4pm today (September 12) is in addition to the 21 reported in the previous day's update, which was the highest one-day increase since May, and brings the total number of cases for the borough recorded to 2,266.

The number of positive Covid-19 cases recorded in west Cheshire for the week of September 2-8 is 87.

According to Government mapping data, during that week, the areas which recorded the highest number of cases were Chester Boughton West and Hoole (six cases), Little Sutton East (five cases), Upton West and Heath, Vicars Cross and Hoole East, and Chester City and Garden Quarter (four cases each) and Little Sutton East (three cases).

Although cases continue to rise, the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has, to date, not registered a death for eight weeks.

Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal across England from Monday (September 14) as the Government tackles the rise in coronavirus cases.

The total number of people who have died in Cheshire hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus stands at 726.

The Countess of Chester Hospital Trust has recorded 227 deaths (last recorded July 18), Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recorded 214 deaths, the last on August 31; East Cheshire NHS Trust 146 (last recorded July 22), and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 139 (last recorded August 24).

In England, a further eight people, who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,656. Three of the eight were at North West hospitals.

Patients were aged between 61 and 91 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.