THE trust which runs Colchester Hospital has reported a further six deaths linked to Covid-19 as the sad toll of the disease continues.

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust recorded four coronavirus deaths on December 22, and a further two on Christmas Day.

NHS England figures show a total of 519 people have died in hospital at the trust as of 5pm today (December 27).

The victims were among 4,727 deaths recorded across the East of England.

The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Essex has increased to 61,064 according to latest figures by Public Health England.

The top three areas with the highest coronavirus rate in the country are now all in Essex.

The areas are Thurrock, Brentwood and Epping Forest.

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.”

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the coronavirus deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may have taken place days earlier.