A further five patients being cared for by West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

The death toll at the trust, which runs hospitals in Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead, now stands at 334, according to figures published today by NHS England.

The health body confirmed the latest five deaths were recorded recently, with four occurring on May 16 and one on May 15.

Nationally, NHS England confirmed 90 new deaths at hospitals across the country of patients who contracted Covid-19.

But this number could be higher as the Covid Patient Notification System “did not operate for a period of time on May 16”.

The system is used to record hospital deaths across the country where patients have had a positive test result for Covid-19.

With the system having not been in use for some time yesterday, NHS England said: "The consequences of this situation may therefore be reflected in the number of deaths reported today by NHS England and NHS Improvement."

The health body confirmed that of the new deaths announced today, patients were aged between 45 and 100 years old. Just one had no known underlying health condition.

It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 24,617.

NHS England also announced a further seven deaths of hospital patients who did not test positive for coronavirus but 'Covid-19' has appeared on the death certificate.