NINE more Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded in East Lancashire hospitals, while less than 250 cases have been reported in the six boroughs.

The trust, which manages Blackburn Royal Hospital and Burnley General Hospital, recorded the fatalities in yesterdays (February 2) figures, with one death having occurred on Friday, January 29, five on January 30 and three on January 31.

Elsewhere in Lancashire, another 13 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals recorded nine deaths yesterday, six of which happened on Saturday, January 30 and three on January 29.

Also, in yesterday’s figures, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust reported a further four deaths, three on Monday, February 1 and one on January 31.

Nationally, 767 deaths were reported in NHS hospitals in England.

Although cases are continuing to be reported in each borough, the rate in which positive tests are being confirmed is dropping, with 210 new cases confirmed in East Lancashire in yesterday’s figures.

Blackburn with Darwen reported another 79 cases yesterday, taking the total number in the borough to 15,982.

Pendle saw the second highest rise in Pennine Lancashire with a further 36 positive tests reported to take the total number of cases discovered in the borough to 8,800.

Burnley saw a further 30 cases of the virus, taking their total number to 9,064.

Hyndburn reported a rise of 25 cases, meaning that 6,906 cases have now been reported.

Ribble Valley and Rossendale both had a further 20 people test positive, taking the total number of reported infections in each area to 4,024 and 5,449 respectively.