The number of coronavirus patients being treated at hospitals in south and mid Essex has fallen – despite a surge in cases.

The latest figures up to Tuesday, November 23, show the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust was caring for 93 coronavirus patients.

That was down from 101 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 20% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 116.

It comes despite all parts of south Essex seeing a surge in infections in the past week, with Basildon and Southend both recording nearly 900 new cases in seven days.

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Across England there were 6,257 people in hospital with Covid as of November 23, with 780 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 9% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 3%.

The figures also show that 75 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the week to November 21.

This was down from 91 in the previous seven days.