THE latest NHS update has recorded seven new cases of coronavirus in Bolton, as the number of confirmed cases approaches 1,000.

205 people have so far died from the virus at Royal Bolton Hospital, while there have now been 993 confirmed cases in the town.

NHS England today announced 147 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 25,691.

Of the 147 new deaths announced:

- 28 occurred on May 23

- 40 occurred on May 22

- 12 occurred on May 21

The figures also show 49 of the new deaths took place between May 1 and 20, 16 were in April, and the remaining two occurred in March with the earliest new death on March 13.

NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago.

This is due to the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed and for data from the tests to be validated.

The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths on a single day, with a current total of 891.