NINE new coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Dorset hospitals in the latest 24 hour period, official figures show.

Two new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at Dorset Trust - NHS England figures show 55 people had died in hospital at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Monday (February 1).

That was an increase of two compared to Sunday, when there were 53.

It means there have been 10 deaths in the past week, up from three the previous week.

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

NHS England figures show 542 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Monday (February 1).

That was an increase of seven compared to Sunday, when there were 535.

It means there have been 93 deaths in the past week, up from 65 the previous week.

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 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.