THE UK has seen a drastic increase in the number of patients who died after testing positive for coronavirus.

This afternoon, the government said a further 684 patients had died in the biggest daily increase across the UK in 24 hours.

The Department of Health said a total of 3,605 patients had died as of Thursday (April 2).

In the North-East and North Yorkshire, hospital trusts told NHS England that a further 27 patients had died after contracting COVID-19.

The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs sites including Sunderland City Hospital and South Tyneside District Hospital, has so far seen the highest number of fatalities.

It has been closely followed by the County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which have also seen more than 20 deaths.

The total number of patients by each NHS Trusts as of 5pm on April 2 are as follows:

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust - 24 (2 new deaths)

Gateshead Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - 8

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - 19 (5 new deaths)

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust - 11 (4 new deaths)

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 35 (5 new deaths)

South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust - 34 (5 new deaths)

Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 17 (3 new deaths)

York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 13

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust - 6 (3 new deaths)