THE number of confirmed coronavirus cases continued to rise in all parts of Sussex as the death toll in the county rose by eight in 24 hours.

There have now been 369 patients to have died after testing positive for the illness at hospitals in the county.

The figure, released yesterday afternoon, marked an increase of eight deaths from the day before.

Half of these deaths were recorded at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust sites, which includes the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

A further two were confirmed at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which operates hospitals supporting the Crawley and Horsham areas, as well as parts of East Surrey.

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

These figures do not include deaths outside of hospital, such as those in care homes.

Meanwhile the number of cases in all parts of Sussex also increased overnight, statistics from Public Health England revealed.

West Sussex saw the greatest rise, leaping from 910 to 943, while the number of cases in East Sussex increased by eight, reaching 479 overall, and the Brighton and Hove total reached 334 - climbing up by 12 in 24 hours.

There have now been 1,756 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Sussex since the outbreak of the illness.

Nationally, there have been 425,821 people tested for the virus with 138,078 testing positive.

A total of 18,738 people are confirmed to have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus.

  • 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