THE number of people to have died in Cornish hospitals due to coronavirus has increased for the first time in nearly a week.

The total according to NHS England had stayed at 83 since last Tuesday, but has now risen by one in today's figures.

There have now been 59 at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, while the total at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust remains at 25.

However, the NHS England totals being released daily only cover deaths in hospitals and do not include those losing their lives in the community, in settings such as care homes and private residences.

Office for National Statistics records show at least 50 such deaths in Cornwall, bringing the overall number to a minimum of 134.

Across England, a further 209 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 23,358.

Patients were aged between 40 and 99 years old. Of those, 12 - aged between 55 and 97 years old - had no known underlying health condition, NHS England said.

Their families have been informed.

There were six new deaths in the south west as a whole.

There are currently 547 confirmed coronavirus cases in Cornwall, an increase of five since Sunday.