Five more coronavirus patients have died at the Princess Alexandra hospital.
NHS England confirmed the deaths, which happened over a five-day period, this afternoon.
Yesterday, the Harlow hospital announced eight Covid-19 deaths – the hospital’s total death toll now stands at 34.
Lance McCarthy, chief executive, for The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust said: “We can confirm that sadly, five patients, aged between 56 and 92 years old, who had underlying conditions have passed away at The Princess Alexandra Hospital. They had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patients’ families and loved ones at this difficult time."
Across the UK, a further 561 people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 2,698.
Of the latest deaths, patients were aged between 22 and 100 years old.
Fouty-four of the 561 patients (aged between 25 and 100 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
The British Medical Association's latest ethics advice said health professionals could be forced to make "grave decisions" should hospitals become overwhelmed with patients.
The document warns that decisions around rationing scarce resources, such as ventilators, could determine whether large numbers of patients will receive life-saving treatment or not.
Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA's medical ethics committee, said: "Looking ahead to the coming weeks, if hard choices are required, we know they will be contested. There will be anger and pain.
"People who, in normal circumstances, would receive strenuous treatment may instead be given palliation in order to favour those with greater likelihood of benefitting.
"Nobody wants to make these decisions, but if resources are overwhelmed, these decisions must be made."
The BMA's guidance states that during the peak of the pandemic doctors may have to assess a person's eligibility for treatment based on a "capacity to benefit quickly" basis.
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