NHS England have confirmed seven coronavirus deaths at West Hertfordshire hospitals in today’s update, as coronavirus deaths continue a downward slope.

The health body today announced 366 new deaths at hospitals in England of patients who tested positive for coronavirus.

While this is an increase of the 204 reported deaths confirmed in yesterday’s update, the update yesterday was affected by weekend lag and generally the deaths appear to be on a downward slope.

This brings the total reported deaths in hospitals in England to 21,750.

Fourteen of the 366 patients, aged between 49 and 85, had no underlying health conditions.

Seven of the 366 patients were being treated at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The additional deaths at the trust were recorded between March 31 and yesterday (May 4).

The total death toll at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust now stands at 302.

The figures show that 85 of the new deaths took place in April, while the remaining five deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on March 19.

Of the 21,750 confirmed reported deaths so far:

• 11,412 (52 per cent) were people aged 80 and over,

• 8,442 (39 per cent) were aged 60 to 79.

• 1,732 people (8 per cent) were aged 40 to 59.

• 153 (1 per cent) were aged 20 to 39.

• 11 people (0.05 per cent) were aged 0 to 19.

In response to the latest statistics, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: "Every death from coronavirus is a tragedy. We are working night and day to give all of those affected the best possible support.

"In terms of the general trend that the death statistics set out, I would point you to the PM's words last week where he said we are past the peak of this disease and on the downward slope but we remain in a dangerous phase and must recognise the risk of a second peak.

"We must continue to do all that we can to suppress the virus and keep the reproduction rate down."