THERE has been a sharp rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Brighton and Hove.

The total number of confirmed cases has risen by eight in a single day, the largest daily increase since April.

There have now been 457 cases in the city since the outbreak of the virus.

The number of cases also increased incrementally elsewhere in Sussex.

East Sussex climbed from 723 to 729, while in West Sussex it is now 1,331, one more than day before.

This takes the Sussex total to 2,517.

Six further deaths of coronavirus patients being treated at Sussex hospital trust sites have been confirmed today.

This took the total number of casualties in the county’s hospitals to 591 since the outbreak of the virus. But this figure does not include people who have died outside of hospital such as in care homes.

Two deaths were reported at the Sussex Community Foundation Trust, which now has a total of 17.

Three additional deaths were confirmed by the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, with its overall figure at 136.

No deaths were recorded at sites run by the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which has seen 247 coronavirus patients die after contracting the illness.

The figures for Western Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust (109) remained the same as before.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust recorded one further death, making its total 82. Nationally, there have been 281,661 positive coronavirus tests with 39,904 deaths of patients in all settings.