The trust which runs Southend and Basildon hospitals was caring for 142 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 24 was up from 138 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 27 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 112.

Across England there were 14,506 people in hospital with Covid as of November 24, with 1,306 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The numbers of Covid-19 patients being hospitalised have increased by 69 per cent, while those on mechanical ventilators have increased by 76 per cent in the last four weeks across England.

The figures also show that 119 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the week to November 22. This was down from 134 in the previous seven days.