Two further deaths of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have been reported by a hospital trust.

Both patients were being cared for at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and they both died on Tuesday (October 6).

Three Covid-19 deaths were previously reported at the trust on October 1, September 30, and September 25.

One of the deaths on Tuesday was confirmed today with the other confirmed yesterday (Wednesday).

In total, they were among 97 deaths announced by NHS England yesterday and today, and all but two patients had underlying health conditions.

The NHS says the 97 patients were aged between 32 and 99.

The five deaths at West Hertfordshire trust since September 25 is more than any other hospital trust in the east of England has reported in that time period – and only two London trusts - Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Barts Health NHS Trust, recorded more than five.

As of 4pm on Thursday, there were 115 Covid-19 patients in hospital in the east of England, including 11 new admissions.

There were 12 patients on a ventilator.

Nationally, figures show there were 3,044 Covid-19 patients in hospital in England as of Thursday, up from 1,995 a week ago, while 368 Covid-19 hospital patients were in ventilation beds, up from 285 a week ago.