TWO new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at the trust that runs Colchester Hospital, the latest official figures show.

NHS England figures show 441 people had died in hospital at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday (December 3).

That was an increase of two compared to Wednesday, when there were 439.

It means there have been 15 deaths in the past week, down from 17 the previous week.

The victims were among 4,155 deaths recorded across the East of England.

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.