Two elderly patients who had tested positive for coronavirus at Queen Elizabeth Hospital have died over the weekend.

The patients were both in their 80s and were described as the trust as having "underlying health conditions."

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust's chief executive Ben Travis confirmed that the patients, both being cared for at QEH after testing positive for Covid-19, had sadly passed away.

One death occured at the hospital on Saturday, March 14 and one on Sunday, March 15.

Their families have been informed.

Mr Travis said in a statement: “Sadly, we can confirm that two people who were being cared for at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and had tested positive for COVID-19, have died.

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

The number of confirmed UK cases is currently 1,391, with the Government updating the number of deaths caused by coronavirus to 35 on Sunday.

This includes 407 cases in London, with 13 in Greenwich and 11 in Lewisham as of Sunday.

The first case in Greenwich was confirmed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Monday last week, but the number of cases is steadily increasing nationally, impacting on daily life in the borough.

Both QEH and University Hospital Lewisham have restricted the number of visitors to one person at a time to protect patients from the potential risk of coronavirus.

Children are also prohibited from visiting patients, and as of today new restrictions are being applied to the maternity ward.

Only one named adult (no children, including the patient's own children) who is sympton free is allowed to visit, and only two visitors are allowed for women in labour.

To access official government and NHS guidance, follow this link.