DOZENS of patients tested positive for coronavirus as cases continue to rise in Sussex.

Official figures from Public Health England show 34 people have tested positive for the disease.

It comes amid growing alarm about a rise in Covid-19 cases nationwide.

In East Sussex there were five reported cases in the past 24 hours.

The figure for Brighton and Hove was 11 confirmed cases in the same time period.

Meanwhile in West Sussex there were 18 recorded cases of coronavirus from tests.

There were more than 3,000 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK during the period, the figures showed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has today faced questions over access to coronavirus test, with reports that key NHS workers are struggling to get vital checks.

The rate of infection in East Sussex now stands at 334 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 574.

In Brighton and Hove the rate of infection now stands at 337 cases per 100,000 people.

While in West Sussex cases now stand at 371 per 100,000 people.

The BBC has reported that more than 100 patients are now on ventilation in hospital across the country, the highest figure since July.

Latest figures show that 15 people have died of the disease in hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland in the past 24 hours.

In total, 41,664 people have died.