TEN more hospital patients have died after contracting Covid-19 in south Essex.

All of the deaths have been recorded at the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Trust, with one occurring yesterday.

There were three new deaths recorded on Thursday, one on Wednesday, four on Tuesday and another on Monday.

It takes the total number of coronavirus related deaths at the trust to 179 - up from 169 this time yesterday.

The latest figures released by the NHS today (Saturday, April 18) show there have been no new deaths recorded at Southend Hospital meaning its total figure remains at 113.

Elsewhere in the county, there have been seven more Covid-19 deaths at the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals - taking the total to 156.

There has been six more deaths at Broomfield taking the total to 104, and four more at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust in Harlow meaning its total is now 150.

A further death has been recorded at the Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust taking its overall figure to 10.

The trust is largely responsible for mental health services in the county.

Across the UK, there has been 888 new Covid-19 deaths recorded in hospitals.

It means the overall total is now 15,464.