THERE have been 17 new coronavirus deaths recorded in Dorset hospitals, latest figures show.

The figures include the first coronavirus deaths in five days to have been recorded at Dorset County Hospital Trust.

NHS England figures show 81 people had died in hospital at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (February 2).

That was an increase of five compared to the 76 that had been recorded at the same point on Monday, and the first deaths in five days.

A further five new coronavirus deaths have also been recorded at another Dorset Trust in the latest 24-hour period.

NHS England figures show 60 people had died in hospital at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (February 2).

That was an increase of five compared to Monday, when there were 55.

It means there have been 10 deaths in the past week, up from seven 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 549 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (February 2).

That was an increase of seven compared to Monday, when there were 542.

It means there have been 66 deaths in the past week, down from 90 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.