Latest East Sussex Covid deaths revealed

NHS England figures show 176 people had died in hospital at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (December 23).

That was an increase of six compared to Tuesday, when there were 170.

It means there have been 33 deaths in the past week, up from 13 the previous week.

The victims were among 5,246 deaths recorded across the South East.

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.