The number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 in south and mid Essex has fallen in the past week.

Mid and South Essex Trust was caring for 62 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, according to NHS figures.

The data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on August 24 was down from 83 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospital occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 35% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 46.

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Across England there were 5,911 people in hospital with Covid as of August 24, with 857 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 14% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 16%.

The figures also show that 70 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the week to August 22. This was down from 72 in the previous seven days.