Coronavirus patients in England hospitals rise 30% in a week

The number of people in hospital with coronavirus (Covid-19) in England has risen to its highest level in four months, data shows.

Latest figures from NHS England show that 4,401 hospital beds were occupied by confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday 23 July. That’s the highest level since 22 March.

This is a week-on-week rise of 30.7% from the 3,367 people in hospital on 16 July.

Numbers are still lower than the peak of the second wave, when patient levels in England reached 34,336 on 18 January.

The North East and Yorkshire had the highest number of beds occupied with coronavirus patients on Friday, at 1,026.

This is up 40% on the previous week and the highest since 12 March, when there were 1,049.

Third wave

The NHS England data also showed that coronavirus hospital admissions rose 23% week-on-week from 14 to 21 July. They rose from 636 to 783 respectively.

The total includes 215 in the North East England and Yorkshire, up 17% week-on-week and the highest daily number for the region since 16 February.

Total admissions for England are still below the peak of the second wave, when they hit 4,134 on 12 January.

But the figures do reflect how the third wave of coronavirus is continuing to drive a slow but steady rise in hospital admissions. Meanwhile, restrictions such as mask-wearing and social distancing remain eased.