Four patients in Cornwall have died after being diagnosed with coronavirus, it has been announced.

It comes as NHS England said the COVID-19 death toll has reached 233 after a further 53 people died in England after testing positive for the virus.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed the sad news about four of its patients, who were all over the age of 70 and had underlying health conditions, in a statement this evening.

The trust said: “Sadly, we can confirm that four patients who had been cared for at Royal Cornwall Hospital and had tested positive for COVID-19, have died this week.

"The patients were all over 70 and had underlying health conditions.

"Their families have been informed about the cause of death and are following national guidance.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.

"Out of respect for their privacy we will not be commenting further.”

Yesterday two patients died at Torbay Hospital in Devon and both were in their 80s and had underlying health conditions.

The Department for Health and Social Care said as of 9am on 21 March, a total of 72,818 have been tested: 67,800 negative and 5,018 positive.

Today, leaders of Cornwall urged tourists to help "save lives" by staying away from the county.

Steve Double, Conservative MP for St Austell and Newquay, said: "The message from the Government is very clear, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

"That is our message from Cornwall.

"Please do not travel to Cornwall, we do not want to spread this virus any further, we do not want our NHS in Cornwall being put under undue pressure by tourists coming here.

"We want to save the lives of people in Cornwall and if you travel here, I'm sorry, there is a very blunt message, you are putting the lives of people in Cornwall at risk.

"I'm getting endless reports from people saying that the roads into Cornwall are full of people with cars full of suitcases and top-boxes, and people clearly coming down here.

"And reports that regrettably, sadly, some tourist parks are still taking in bookings and still urging people to come here.

"It's very, very concerning it's the biggest concern of people here in Cornwall right now, the number of people who appear to be heading our way."

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What to do if you think you have coronavirus

The government has announced guidance to help reduce the spread of infection which requires anyone who has symptoms of a coronavirus infection – a new continuous cough and/or a high temperature (37.8 degrees centigrade or higher) – to stay at home for seven days from the point that their symptoms first started if living on their own, or 14 days if living with people in a household and one person gets symptoms.

This will help protect others in the community while the individual is infectious.

You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after the isolation period, visit NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, call NHS 111.

For a medical emergency dial 999.

The latest government advice is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Updates will be provided in the blog below.

Scroll down for the latest.