IT'S now 23 days since the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust last reported the death of a patient testing positive for coronavirus.

NHS England data released this afternoon (August 10) shows that, as of 4pm yesterday, the total number of deaths registered by the trust – which covers both the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – once again remained at 227.

The last death occurred on July 18, which was announced by the trust two days later.

The Cheshire hospital death toll stands at 723 with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recording 213, East Cheshire NHS Trust 146, and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 137.

As of 4pm on Sunday, August 9, the number of people with at least one lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 test result in the Cheshire West and Chester area stands at 2,068.

Across England, further six people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,417.

*NHS England: The total announced file is updated daily and contains information on the deaths of patients who have died in hospitals in England and either tested positive for COVID-19 or where no positive test result was received for COVID-19, but COVID-19 was mentioned on their death certificate. All deaths are recorded against the date of death rather than the day the deaths were announced.