THERE were three new Covid-related deaths recorded at Worcestershire's hospitals on the day the life of an 11-year-old was reported to have been claimed by the virus.

All three deaths in the county were in the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, taking the overall tally to 778. Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s total stays at 62.

In total, there have been 840 Covid-19 deaths in county hospitals.

And in all settings, which includes care homes and hospices, there have been at least 1,287 coronavirus deaths.

Nationally, a further 164 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing to 84,631 the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England.

Patients were aged between 11 and 100 years old. All except eight, aged 49 to 87 years old, had known underlying health conditions.

The dates of death range from December 20 to March 8 with the majority being on or after March 4. Their families have been informed.

Two of the three deaths in Worcestershire occurred on Friday, March 5 with the other happening on Thursday, March 4.

The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows:

East of England - 20 London - 15 Midlands - 29 North East & Yorkshire - 37 North West - 35 South East – 13 South West - 15

TOTAL 164

The Acute Hospitals Trust covers Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital as well as the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital.

The Health and Care NHS trust covers community hospitals and rehabilitation wards, including Worcester City Impatient Unit, Malvern Community Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital, Pershore Community Hospital, the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove, Tenbury Community Hospital and the Wyre Forest Ward.