First Covid-19 deaths in over a week recorded at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
73 people have now died from coronavirus in the Duchy
The first coronavirus deaths in almost two weeks have been recorded at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, the latest figures show.
NHS England figures show 73 people had died in hospital at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (December 15).
That was an increase of two compared to the 71 that had been recorded at the same point on Monday, and the first death in 12 days.
The victims were among 2,063 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.
"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."
NHS England guidance statement
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.