ONE new coronavirus death has been recorded at Dorset County Hospital in the latest 24-hour period, official figures show.

NHS England figures show 106 people had died in hospital at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Monday (March 1).

That was an increase of one compared to Sunday, when there were 105.

It means there have been three deaths in the past week, down from four the previous week.

The victims were among 4,280 deaths recorded across the South West.

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.