THE first coronavirus death in five days has been recorded at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), the latest figures show.

NHS England figures show 176 people had died in hospital at SaTH as of 5pm on Sunday, October 18.

That was an increase of one compared to the 175 that had been recorded at the same point on Friday, and the first death in five days.

The victims were among 6,137 deaths recorded across the midlands.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: "Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure."

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.