CORONAVIRUS cases continue to rise in Sussex and three further deaths have been recorded.

In the UK, 160 people died in the 24 hours leading up to 9am, compared with 170 casualties recorded the day before.

The national death toll is now 34,796, and 246,406 people have tested positive for the virus in Britain.

Hospital trusts in Sussex have recorded three more deaths of coronavirus patients.

The total number of deaths in hospital trusts in Sussex is now 531.

However, these figures do not include people who died outside hospitals, such as in care homes.

Latest figures show one more death was recorded at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. The total is now 227.

Western Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust confirmed no further deaths and the total remains at 93.

There were no deaths reported at sites operated by the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The total number of deaths at these hospitals remains at 121.

There were two further deaths at the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and the total is now at 78.

No further deaths were recorded at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, where the total remains at 15.

The number of cases across the county continues to grow. There are now 1,276 cases in West Sussex. The Brighton and Hove total is 408, and the East Sussex figure is 665.

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