Eleven more people have died in Cumbria after testing positive for coronavirus.

Between Sunday March 22 and Wednesday March 25, seven people died at hospitals run by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).

The trust runs Furness General Hospital, Westmorland General Hospital and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

In the north of the county, four people died at hospitals run by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation, between Tuesday March 24 and Wednesday March 25.

The trust runs the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital.

Community leaders have expressed their condolences for the bereaved families.

Former Barrow mayor, Bill McEwan, said: “My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones.

“We need to stop spreading this thing - people, especially some younger people, don’t realise they’re gambling with people’s lives here.

“The bottom line is stay in - we know the figures will rise but we can limit that by heeding the advice of the government and of medical experts.”

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “Any death is tragic.

“This shows why it’s important people stay at home where they can and self-isolate if necessary.

“I think the message has finally set in and public have begun to realise just how serious a role they play in limiting this and in making sure the NHS still has capacity to deal with the virus. But people need to remember, this is not going to last for just a few days.”

There has now been 11,658 positive coronavirus cases in the UK, with 578 deaths.

In a statement, NHS England said: “A further 107 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 521.

“Patients were aged between 32 and 102 years old and all but two patients (aged between 71 and 86 years of age) had underlying health conditions.

“Their families have been informed.”