A PATIENT being treated for coronavirus in Eastbourne has died.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust confirmed the patient had passed away yesterday at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

The patient is the second to die from the virus at the hospital in a few days, after another died on Wednesday.

The Trust said: "We can confirm that a patient at Eastbourne District General Hospital, who had tested positive for Covid-19, has sadly died.

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"Our thoughts are with the patient’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time."

According to Public Health England, there were nine confirmed cases of people with the virus in the local authority of East Sussex as of yesterday, with 17 in Brighton and Hove and 27 in West Sussex.

So far, 281 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK have died.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund or call the team on 01273 409440 or email stephen.chamberlain@sussexgiving.org.uk