FIVE more patients have now died at the Royal Bolton Hospital after contracting coronavirus.

One patient death from Tuesday, three from Monday, and one from Sunday have all been linked to covid-19.

The latest update reveals that 368 patients at the borough hospital have now died after contracting the virus.

Yesterday afternoon, a further 134 new infections were recorded across the borough – up from the 90 new infections recorded yesterday.

On Monday, just 67 new cases of covid-19 were confirmed across the borough, the smallest daily increase in cases since October 2.

The rolling seven-day rate of infections has started to slip to similar levels seen during this time – with the weekly infection rate at the lowest point in a month.

Just over 950 new cases were confirmed in the week to November 20, for a rate of 330.7 – down from the 450 new infections per 100,000 people reported the week before.

The last time infection rates dropped below 400 was in the middle of October, with the current rate at its lowest point since October 11.

Since March, 14,676 people have tested positive for covid-19 in Bolton.