A FURTHER five people in the North-East have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

On Monday, the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospital Foundation Trust confirmed three patients had died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust also confirmed two of its patients had died.

NHS England said a further 46 people who tested positive for COVID-19 had died since figures were last reported yesterday.

It now means that the total number of COVID-19 deaths in England stands at 303.

A spokesperson for the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospital Foundation Trust said: "We are very sad to confirm that three patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with their families at this very difficult and distressing time.

"We would like to request that the privacy of these families is respected."

The latest deaths come as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of "tougher measures" if people continued to ignore social distancing guidelines to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

Boris Johnson is now coming under increasing pressure from MPs to enact a full UK lockdown as more than 6,600 people in the UK have tested positive for the virus.

Mr Johnson is expected to address the nation this evening with suggestion it could include a 'new and stricter' lockdown policy for the UK.