FOURTEEN more people who tested positive for coronavirus have died at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals, as the NHS trust recorded its highest daily tally on record.

NHS figures published on Thursday showed that 11 deaths had been recorded at the trust, which manages Whiston, St Helens and Newton hospitals.

One of the deaths occurred on Saturday, October 17, while the other ten deaths occurred between Monday and Wednesday.

Three more deaths were included in today’s figures, with one occurring on Monday and two on Wednesday.

It means there have been 27 deaths in the past week, up from 10 the previous week.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death. This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

Today’s update brings the coronavirus death toll at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to 257.

The sobering figure comes as St Helens Borough Council’s director of public health urged people to play their part over the Halloween and Bonfire period.

Ms Forster said: “We’re now going into our second week of Tier 3 restrictions in St Helens. And these are obviously making sure that we can get our infection rates down.

“But still our infection rates are high – nearly 800 (positive cases) a week.

“And yet un the next week or so we’re going to be celebrating Halloween and Bonfire Night.

“And it’s half term for the schools and colleges, and many of us will want to go and celebrate. But we want to make sure that you do this safely.”

Ms Forster reminded the public they cannot mix with people outside of their household or support bubble in their homes and gardens.

If you are planning on meeting up with people outside of your household outdoors, you can only do so in groups of six and you must socially distance.

If you do develop symptoms of Covid-19, isolate immediately and only leave your house to get tested.

And if NHS Test and Trace or your school tells you to isolate, you must stay in your house until the isolation period ends.

Ms Forster said: “Playing our part is really, really important. We all have to do this together.

“It will be St Helens together to get on top of this virus. Enjoy the next week but do it safely.”