THREE more people have died at Northumbria Healthcare hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.

The latest data from NHS England confirmed that the virus has now claimed the lives of 232 people at the trust's hospitals, up from 229 yesterday.

Public Health England's figures showed that there have now been 3,969 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Northumberland - an increase of 95 on Thursday's figure.

Northumberland County Council's figures showed that there have been 522 confirmed cases of coronavirus from October 6 until October 13 - a rate of 163 cases per 100,000 residents.

Ponteland East and Stannington ward had the highest number of confirmed cases in the Hexham Constituency, with 13 cases in the seven days from October 6.

Prudhoe North ward followed with ten cases.

Nationally, a further 18,980 cases were confirmed yesterday, bringing the UK total to 673,622.

A further 138 people died after having a positive test, bringing the total death toll to 43,293. In addition, 57,690 people have died with COVID-19 on the death certificate.

Furthermore, 792 people were admitted to hospital to be treated for COVID-19, meaning there are now 4,941 people in hospital, with 563 on ventilator beds.