THREE further deaths of coronavirus patients being treated at Sussex hospital trust sites have been confirmed today.

This took the total number of casualties in the county's hospitals to 585 since the outbreak of the virus. But this figure does not include people who have died outside of hospital such as in care homes.

One of the additional deaths was confirmed by the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath - taking its overall figure to 133.

The other two deaths were recorded at sites run by the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which has now seen 247 coronavirus patients die after contracting the illness.

The figures for Western Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust (109) East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (81) and Sussex Community Foundation Trust (15) remained the same as the day before.

The number of cases also increased incrementally in all areas of Sussex.

East Sussex saw the greatest rise, climbing from 717 to 721, while the Brighton and Hove Figure rose by three, reaching 444.

The overall number of confirmed cases in West Sussex is now 1,331, two higher than the day before, taking the Sussex total to 2.496.

Nationally, there have been 277,985 positive coronavirus tests with 39,369 deaths of patients in hospitals.

This marked an increase of 324 in the 24 hours leading up to 9am today.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund