THE first coronavirus death in four weeks has been recorded at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, the latest figures show.

NHS England figures show 213 people had died in hospital at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as of 5pm on Monday (September 21).

That was an increase of one compared to the 212 that had been recorded at the same point on Sunday, and the first death in 28 days.

The victims were among 4,990 deaths recorded across the North West, which is the third-worst affected of England's seven NHS regions after London and the midlands.

Of 28 trusts within the region, East Lancashire Hospitals trust has the 13th-highest death toll.

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 said: "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.