A FURTHER five coronavirus patients have died in the North-East and North Yorkshire, latest figures confirm.

Figures published on Friday afternoon confirm a total of 1,548 people have died in hospitals in our region after testing positive for Covid-19.

Nationally, a further 121 people have died in hospitals in England after testing positive - one of the lowest day-on-day rises in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for NHS England said: "A further 121 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 25,387.

"Patients were aged between 41 and 98 years old.  Three of the 121 patients (aged between 50 and 91) had no known underlying health condition. Their families have been informed."

The total number of patient deaths recorded by each trust as of 5pm on Thursday, May 21 are: 

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust – 220 was 219

Gateshead Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust –129 was 128 

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – 183 

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust – 105 was 104

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 223 was 221

South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – 311 

Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 109

York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 196 

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust – 58

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (mental health) –  7

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust (mental health) -   7

Total: 1,548 was 1,543 the day before.