A TOTAL of 27 patients with Covid-19 in Worcestershire have died, it has been confirmed.

NHS England has announced seven deaths at Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust hospitals.

And a further death has also been reported by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

The total is up to 27 in the county, up from 19 previously.

The figures are the latest provided by the public body, and correct as of April 1.

The acute hospital trust covers Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital.

The health and care NHS trust covers community hospitals and rehabilitation wards, including Worcester City Impatient Unit, Malvern Community Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital, Pershore Community Hospital, the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove, Tenbury Community Hospital and the Wye Forest Ward.

The eight deaths are included in the 486 nationally, who died after testing positive for coronavirus - that has brought the overall total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 2,137.