THE latest figures show a further 20 confirmed deaths of coronavirus patients being treated by Sussex hospital trusts.

The data also shows an increase in the number of cases of the illness across all parts of the county.

Public Health England revealed this morning that the figure for Sussex has now reached 1,703 - up 32 from the day before.

East Sussex saw an overnight increase from 457 to 471, while West Sussex rose from 895 to 910 and the Brighton and Hove total hit 322 - seven more than the previous day.

Meanwhile the number of deaths of coronavirus patients being treated at hospitals operated by Sussex NHS trusts leapt from 341 to 361 in 24 hours, the NHS revealed yesterday.

This included a further four deaths at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust sites, which includes the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The greatest increase was seen at sites owned by Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates hospitals supporting the Crawley and Horsham areas, as well as parts of East Surrey.

The trust's figure climbed from 149 to 157.

Meanwhile the total for the Western Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust, which has sites in Chichester, Worthing and Shoreham, reached 64 - an increase of six from the day before.

Both East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates hospitals in Eastbourne, Bexhill, Rye and St Leonards, and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, which provides care across the county, recorded one further death.

This took their totals to 51 and 11 respectively.

There have now been 361 deaths of coronavirus patients at Sussex hospitals, though this figure does not include other casualties such as those who have died in care homes.

Nationally, 411,192 people have been tested for coronavirus since the outbreak of the illness with 133,495 people having tested positive - as of 9am yesterday.

Of these, 18,100 have died, as of 5pm on Tuesday, with an increase of 759 in the 24 hours leading up to this time.

  • 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