TWO new deaths have been announced in patients with coronavirus at two NHS trusts with hospitals in Cumbria.

The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust - which runs the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital - announced one new death in yesterday's NHS England figures. The death was recorded on January 2.

Senior managers declared an Opel 4 Alert at the trust on Saturday.

The NHS definition of the conditions triggering an Opel 4 Alert are summarised as: "Pressure in the local health and social care system continues to escalate leaving organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care. There is increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised."

At the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust - which runs hospitals in south Cumbria and north Lancashire - a death was also recorded on January 2.