Latest figures show nine new COVID-19 related deaths at West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust

There have been nine new coronavirus deaths at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust in the past 24 hours, the latest official figures show.

NHS England figures show 267 people had died in hospital at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust as of 5pm on Monday, April 27.

Of 23 trusts within the region, the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust, which manages Hemel Hempstead Hospital, Watford General Hospital and St Albans City Hospital, has the highest death toll.

There have been 108 coronavirus deaths at East and North Hertfordshire Trust and seven at both the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.

The figures released from Public Health England show that there are 42 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hertfordshire in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,183.

But the true number of cases is thought to be far higher with many people not being tested.

Nationally, the number of coronavirus cases now stands at 161,145 (includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the country totals), rising by 3,996. The number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital has been recorded as 21,678, rising by 586 today - according to Public Health England.

The figures for the number of patients recovered from COVID-19 have not been released by Public Health England.

All the figures refer only to people who have been tested in hospital. The true extent of infection among the wider public, who have no access to testing kits, is as yet unknown.

The new figures were recorded between 5pm on Sunday and 5pm on Monday.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do

- Stay at home

- Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)

- If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times

- Wash your hands as soon as you get home

- Do not meet others, even friends or family.

- You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.