THREE new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust in the latest 24-hour period, the latest official figures show.

NHS England figures show 287 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Monday (November 23).

That was an increase of three compared to Sunday, when there were 284.

It means there have been 16 deaths in the past week, down from 19 the previous week.

The victims were among 7,738 deaths recorded across the North West, which is the second-worst affected of England's seven NHS regions after the midlands.

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.