ALMOST 700 people have now died with Covid-19 in Dorset hospitals since the start of the pandemic.

Latest data released by NHS England on Wednesday, February 3, showed 17 further Covid-related deaths were confirmed by the county’s hospitals.

University Hospitals Dorset, which runs Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital, confirmed seven deaths with one on January 30 and three on January 31 and February 1.

Dorset County Hospital reported five deaths, with two on January 29 and three on January 30.

Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust also confirmed five deaths with one occurring on January 19, 23, 25, 26 and 27.

A total of 690 patients have died with the virus in the county’s hospitals.

University Hospitals Dorset has recorded 374 deaths, Dorset County Hospital 81 and Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust 60.

Poole Hospital and Royal Bournemouth Hospital confirmed 107 and 68 deaths respectively prior to the hospital merger in October.

NHS officials said a further 707 people who tested positive for the Coronavirus had died bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 73,619.

Patients were aged between 30 and 101 years old.

All except 21, aged 46 to 92 years old, had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from October 21, 2020 to February 2, 2021.