The number of coronavirus-related deaths in south Essex his risen by 21 since the last figures were last released. 

New statistics from NHS England this afternoon show 61 people have now died at Basildon Hospital while 32 patients have died at Southend Hospital. 

At last count, Basildon has recorded 55 while Southend had recorded 17. 

That means six new deaths have been recorded at Basildon Hospital and 15 at Southend Hospital. 

Elsewhere in Essex, there are now 69 recorded deaths at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Harlow, 41 in Mid-Essex - Broomfield Hospital - and 51 at the trust which runs Colchester Hospital. 

The statistics only take into account patients who have died in hospital having tested positive for Covid-19. They do not include people who have died at home or in care homes. 

Yesterday, the data showed there had been no new deaths recorded in Essex. 

Experts believe the discrepancy in how deaths are being reported is down to many hospitals not reporting deaths which, for example, happened over the weekend until the middle of the following week.

Separate figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also suggest the number of people dying with coronavirus is higher than the daily totals indicate.

Nationally, a further 758 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 5,655.

Patients were aged between 23 and 102 years old. 

Some 29 of the 758 patients (aged between 23 and 99 years old) had no known underlying health condition.  

Yesterday, the figures showed a further 403 people had died.

Although today's figure would appear to be a sizeable jump, some of the 'new' recorded deaths date back as far as as Monday, March 30. 

NOTE: As a result of the discrepancy in how deaths are being reported, we will now bring you the total deaths recorded in each trust each day, which we will use to calculate the number of 'new' deaths day-on-day. This, we feel, is the best way to present an accurate picture to our readers.