NINE coronavirus deaths were recorded at Dorset County Hospitals as the death toll across the county increased by 19.

The reported death toll increased by a fifth at Dorset County Hospital Trust over the latest 24-hour period - the highest number of coronavirus deaths recorded at DCH so far.

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

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

NHS England figures show 54 people had died in hospital at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (January 19).

That was an increase of 20 per cent compared to the 45 that had been recorded at the same point on Monday.

It means there have been 14 deaths in the past week, up from eight the previous week.

Meanwhile, nine new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at the newly-formed University Hospitals Dorset Trust in the latest 24-hour period.

NHS England figures show 393 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (January 19).

That was an increase of nine compared to Monday, when there were 384.

One new coronavirus death was also recorded at Dorset Trust in the same time period.

NHS England figures show 43 people had died in hospital at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (January 19).

That was an increase of one compared to Monday, when there were 42.

It means there have been five deaths in the past week, the same number as the previous week.

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.