Coronavirus death toll at hospitals in Herefordshire rises

As of 4pm on Thursday (November 5), NHS England figures show 66 people had died in hospital at Wye Valley NHS Trust after testing positive for coronavirus.

That was an increase of one compared to Wednesday, when there were 65.

It is the frist death to be reported this week, and the data shows the patient died on November 2.

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The victims were among 6,734 deaths recorded across the midlands, with 49 new deaths reported on Friday.

Across England, a further 218 deaths were reported on Friday, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 34,091

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

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This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: "Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure."

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.