A hospital trust has reported five new deaths of patients who tested positive for Covid-19.

Four of the patients being cared for at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust died on Friday (October 23), with a death also occurring on October 20, but was only reported by the NHS today.

It takes the coronavirus death toll at the trust to 397, including 21 in October – which is the highest in the east of England.

The five newly reported deaths, all of whom were people aged over 60, were among 207 to be reported across hospital trusts in England by the NHS.

Coronavirus patients were aged between 36 and 101-years-old. All except six (aged 60 to 93-years-old) had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from September 24 to October 26, with the majority being on or after October 20.

Their families have been informed.

The majority of deaths were in the north west of England (77) and north east & Yorkshire (44).

There were 17 in the east, and 17 in London.

The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 is now 32,117.

Data published on the government coronavirus dashboard today shows there are currently 380 coronavirus patients in hospitals in the east of England, up from 369 yesterday.

This includes 34 patients on ventilation.

Coronavirus cases across Hertfordshire are continuing to rise and rates are over 100 in Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, and Dacorum.

Hertfordshire County Council public health officials are also concerned about a rise in cases in people aged over 60.

This evening, council leader David Williams and director of public health, Jim McManus, issued a statement warning it is "only a matter of time" before Hertfordshire is pushed into Tier 2 restrictions - unless everyone "acts now" to stop the spread.

Read more: Tier 2 restrictions in Hertfordshire 'only a matter of time'