Fifteen coronavirus patients have died at Princess Alexandra NHS Trust hospitals since England entered a second national lockdown earlier this month.

The latest confirmed Covid-death at the trust, which runs Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, was announced yesterday, bringing the trust’s total death toll over the pandemic to 222.

In the eighteen days since the Government’s second national lockdown came into the force, the deadly virus has claimed the lives of 15 patients.

The eighteen days prior to lockdown, the NHS trust – which also runs Essex Hospital and St Margaret's Hospital – reported just two coronavirus deaths.

On November 12 three coronavirus patients died while in the trust’s care, the deadliest single day since May 11.

As of November 17, there were 244 beds occupied by confirmed Covid-19 patients across all Essex hospital trusts.

This equates to 8.9 per cent of trust capacity and is 15 per cent higher compared to bed occupancy one week previous (November 10).

County council health officials expect hospital admissions, diagnosis and occupancy to lag behind community cases by a period of four to eight weeks.

Lockdown is due to end on December 2, with the Prime Minister expected to announce further details on the Government’s plans later today.

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