THE number of coronavirus deaths in English hospitals has risen by six, the latest figures from NHS England show.

No new deaths were recorded in the Midlands region in Wednesday's daily update, which covers the 24-hour period to 4pm on Tuesday (August 11), meaning 5,881 patients have died so far.

Four deaths were recorded in the North West, and one in the North East and Yorkshire region and the South East taking the death toll in England to 29,431.

To date, NHS England figures show 57 have died at the Wye Valley NHS Trust after testing positive for coronavirus, but the most recent death was almost a month ago on July 15.

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 last 24 hours 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.