TWO more patients have now died at Royal Bolton Hospital after contracting coronavirus.

Both patients passed away on Wednesday, November 18.

Official government statistics released on Thursday showed a further two deaths had been linked to covid-19 on Wednesday – taking the total number of coronavirus-related deaths that day to four.

So far, 348 patients at the borough hospital have died after contracting covid-19.

The latest deaths came as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the borough passed 14,000.

Another 136 people who tested positive for coronavirus had their infection status confirmed yesterday, bringing the total number of infections across the borough to 14,097.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference yesterday evening, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it is too early to say what Christmas could look like.

He said: “We’re doing the work on what happens after December 2 right now, it’s still too early to tell.

“Over Christmas I know how important it is that we have a system in place, a set of rules that both keeps people safe but also allows people to see their loved ones.”