Latest figures show four new COVID-19 related deaths at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital

There have been four new coronavirus deaths recorded at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital Trust in the past 24 hours, the latest official figures show.

NHS England figures show 132 people, who tested positive for Covid-19, had died in hospital at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday, April 23.

A week ago, there were 93 deaths. Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

Today (April 24), Luton has recorded six new cases with a total of 554 people diagnosed with COVID-19.

Central Bedfordshire has 427, up from 421, and Bedford has 361, up from 353.

But the true number of cases is thought to be far higher with many people not being tested.

Nationally, the number of coronavirus cases now stands at 143,464 (includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the country totals), rising by 5,386. The number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths in hospital has been recorded as 19,506, rising by 684 today - according to Public Health England.

The figures for the number of patients recovered from COVID-19 have not been released by Public Health England.

All the figures refer only to people who have been tested in hospital. The true extent of infection among the wider public, who have no access to testing kits, is as yet unknown.

The new figures were recorded between 5pm on Wednesday and 5pm on Thursday.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do

- Stay at home

- Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)

- If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times

- Wash your hands as soon as you get home

- Do not meet others, even friends or family.

- You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.