One coronavirus death has been recorded at The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust in four days.

NHS England figures show 522 Covid-19 patients had died in the care of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) since the start of the pandemic

The trust, which runs Princess Alexandra Hospital, Essex Hospital, and St Margaret's Hospital, reported the latest death happened on Sunday, February 21.

The rate of infection in the areas served by the hospital, Epping Forest and Harlow – at the start of the year among the worst affected areas in England – continue to fall.

In the seven days to February 19 there were 86 newly confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Epping Forest, a rate of infection 65.3 down from 83.5 posted the week before.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

In Harlow a rate of infection of 104.5 was posted between February 13 – 19 after 91 new infections were confirmed in the town.

In the seven days to February 12 the towns there were 124 new cases, a seven-day rate of 142.4.

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.

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