TWO more coronavirus patients have died in hospital in Dorset, latest figures show.

The deaths have been recorded at the newly-formed University Hospitals Dorset Trust over the weekend.

NHS England figures show 610 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Sunday (February 14).

That was an increase of two compared to Friday, when there were 608.

It means there have been 26 deaths in the past week, down from 49 the previous week.

The victims were among 3,982 deaths recorded across the South West.

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.