THE trust which runs Colchester Hospital has recorded its first deaths due to coronavirus in more than two months.

One death happened on Thursday and the other on Saturday.

It brings the death toll at the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust to 359 since the outbreak began.

It comes as the coronavirus infection rate in Colchester continues to rise latest figures show.

According to Essex County Council data for October 17 the borough now has an infection rate of 70.9 cases per 100,000 people per week.

This is up from 58 for the week to October 14 and 15.14 cases per 100,000 people for the week to October 1.

To date there have been 1,129 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the borough.

In Tendring, the rate is now 99.6 cases per 100,000 people per week.

This is up from 11.6 cases per 100,000 people for the week to October 1 but lower than the 101.70 cases per 100,000 people recorded on October 14.

There have now been 1,015 confirmed cases of the virus in Tendring.

Data for the most recent days is not included as it may be revised.

For the latest Covid-19 infection rate data visit www.essex.gov.uk/local-outbreak-control-plan.