EIGHT more coronavirus deaths have been recorded at Dorset hospitals in the latest 24 hour period.

Seven of the fatalities occurred at University Hospitals Dorset Trust according to latest NHS England figures.

It means a total of 667 coronavirus patients have now died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, as of 5pm on Tuesday (March 2).

That was an increase of seven compared to Monday, when there were 660.

There have been 20 deaths at that Trust in the past week, down from 21 the previous week.

At another Trust, Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, one new coronavirus death has been recorded within the same time period.

NHS England coronavirus figures show a total of 72 deaths have now been recorded at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.

That was an increase of one compared to Monday, when there were 71.

It means there have been two deaths there in the past week. The previous week there were no new deaths recorded.

The victims were among 4,299 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.