Three more coronavirus deaths reported in East Lancashire hospitals

NHS England figures show 1,031 people had died in hospital at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (June 16).

That was an increase of three compared to Tuesday, when there were 1,028.

No other deaths have been recorded in the latest week. The previous week, one death was reported.

The victims were among 14,335 deaths recorded across the North West, which is the third-worst affected of England's seven NHS regions after the midlands and London.

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.