SOUTHEND, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals are caring for 138 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, NHS England figures show.

The data shows that the number of people being treated by the trust which runs the hospitals for Covid-19 by 8am on November 17 was up from 123 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Mid And South Essex Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 73 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 80.

Across England there were 14,411 people in hospital with Covid as of November 17, with 1,228 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 134 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid And South Essex Trust in the week to November 15. This was up from 81 in the previous seven days.

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

With trials for new vaccines showing promise, preparations are starting for mass vaccination centres to be set up across the country.