THE number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Sussex shot up yesterday.

The figure for Brighton and Hove saw its largest leap since the outbreak began while the totals for East and West Sussex also rose considerably.

Public Health England data updated this morning revealed that 21 people had been diagnosed with coronavirus in 24 hours, causing the city's overall number to jump from 50 to 71.

Elsewhere, the number of patients suffering from the illness in East Sussex increased from 95 to 129 and the West Sussex total reached 199 - rising by 27 from the day before.

This took the total number of cases in Sussex to 399.

Though the number has grown considerably, it is still surpassed by nearby counties such as Surrey, with 649, and Hampshire, with 749.

Birmingham has the highest number of confirmed cases of all upper tier local authorities and NHS regions in the UK with 984.

The latest Department of Health and Social Care figures showed the UK total had reached 38,168 as of 9am yesterday.

The authority also stated that 3,605 people who had been hospitalised in the UK and had tested positive for coronavirus had died, as of 5pm on Thursday.

At least 10 deaths have been confirmed in the Brighton and Hove area.

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund