TWELVE new coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Dorset - including two at Dorset County Hospital.

Two new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at Dorset County Hospital Trust in the latest 24-hour period, the latest official figures show.

NHS England figures show 56 people had died in hospital at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (January 20).

It means there have been 15 deaths in the past week, up from nine the previous week.

Ten new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at the newly-formed University Hospitals Dorset Trust in the latest 24-hour period.

NHS England figures show 403 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (January 20).

The deaths were reported at the new University Hospitals Dorset Trust, which was formed by a merger of the former Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on October 1.

It means there have been 58 deaths in the past week, up from 46 the previous week.

The victims were among 3,031 deaths recorded across the South West.

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.