TWO new coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Dorset in the latest 24-hour period.

The deaths were recorded at University Hospitals Dorset Trust.

NHS England figures show 723 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (March 24).

That was an increase of two compared to Tuesday, when there were 721.

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

The victims were among 4,455 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.