SOUTHEND, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals were caring for 44 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday when the last figures were recorded.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on July 20 was up from 34 on the same day the previous week.

There were eight beds occupied by Covid-19 patients four weeks ago in Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Across England there were 3,894 people in hospital with Covid as of July 20, with 544 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally almost trebled in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators more than doubled, increasing by 140%.

The figures also show that 54 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the week to July 18. This was up from 35 in the previous seven days.