THE number of people known to have died from coronavirus in Worcestershire hospitals has risen dramatically to 79.

Twenty seven deaths have been announced at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, according to figures released on a daily basis by NHS England.

Although the deaths were announced on April 10 - and relate to those announced by the trust for the previous day - the deaths did not all happen on that day. They relate to deaths that happened previously but have only just been added to official totals.

There have been no new deaths recorded by the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust - that figure remains at four.

It means that there has been a total of 83 deaths in the county's hospitals since the crisis began.

A spokesman for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Sadly, we can confirm that 79 patients who were being cared for at our hospitals, and had tested positive for COVID-19, have died. Twenty-seven of those have been announced on Friday, April 10.

“The patients whose deaths have been announced so far were aged between 41 and 98.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and friends of those patients at this very difficult and distressing time.”

Figures released by NHS England show that a further 866 people who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died in hospitals nationally, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 8,114.

Patients were aged between 27 and 100 years old. 56 of the 866 patients (aged between 40 and 93 years old) had no known underlying health condition. Their families have been informed.

These figures do not include deaths outside hospital, such as those in care homes. According to NHS England, this approach makes it possible to compile deaths data on a daily basis using up to date figures.

The Midlands has the second highest death toll after London, with 229 patients having died from coronavirus.

Foreign Minister Dominic Raab urged the public to remain indoors despite the nice weather over the Easter period.

Mr Raab said it was still too early to lift the lockdown, adding: “After all the efforts everybody has made, after all the sacrifices so many people have made let’s not ruin it now.

“Let’s not undo the gains we’ve made, let’s not waste the sacrifices so many people have made.

“We mustn’t give the coronavirus a second chance to kill more people and to hurt our country.”

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust covers the 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 Wye Forest Ward.