A FURTHER 17 deaths linked to Covid-19 have been recorded at Southend Hospital.

It takes the total number of fatalities to occur at the hospital to 480.

NHS data released today (Sunday, January 10) shows the latest 17 deaths happened between December 26 and January 6.

There was another coronavirus-related death announced at the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, taking its total to 615.

The death happened on Friday, January 8.

Across the whole of Essex, 36 Covid-related deaths have been announced today.

There were six announced at each of the trusts running hospitals in Colchester, Harlow and Broomfield.

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.