SOUTHEND, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals are caring for 123 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, NHS England figures show.

The data shows that the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on November 10 was up from 117 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at the hospitals, which form part of Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 more than tripled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 39.

Across England there were 12,033 people in hospital with Covid as of November 10, with 1,010 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The numbers of Covid-19 patients being hospitalised and those on mechanical ventilators have more than doubled in the last four weeks across England.

The figures also show that 81 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the week to November 8. This was down from 93 in the previous seven days.

The Government has implemented a second lockdown for England, which is due to be in place until December 2.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said four weeks should be enough to drive down the spread of coronavirus so the severe restrictions can be eased.

Mass testing trials are due to start in 67 selected areas across England, as part of plans to expand asymptomatic testing for Covid-19.