A TOTAL of 28 people across Dorset have now died after contracting coronavirus, latest figures from NHS England have confirmed.

Nine people died while under the care of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with the latest coming on April 3.

The first death at RBCH came on March 25. Two more people died on March 27 before another patient died on March 28.

Two people also passed away on March 30 and on April 1.

Ten people have died under the care of the Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The latest deaths coming as two people passed away on April 4 and one person on April 3.

Five people died between March 27 and March 31, and Poole Hospital's first deaths came as two people passed away on March 26.

Seven people have died at the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The deaths came on March 21, March 24, March 25, March 26, March 27, April 1 and April 3.

Two people have died under the care of the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.

These were on March 25 and April 2.

A spokesperson for NHS England said: "A further 555 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 4,494.

"Patients were aged between 33 years and 103 years old. 29 of the 555 patients (aged between 35 and 95 years old) had no known underlying health condition.

"Their families have been informed."

In England, 4,494 people have now died after contracting the virus.