THERE are almost 900 Covid patients currently being treated in hospitals across the North-East and North Yorkshire as the Government refuses to rule out a third national lockdown.

Every NHS Trust across our region has reported that it has Covid patients on ventilators, while one trust is currently caring for 222 patients who have tested positive for coronavirus.

The most recent data, which was reported on Wednesday, December 30, has showed how all of our region's trusts have seen a rise in Covid patient admissions in the past week.

It comes as the Health Secretary Matt Hancock today refused to rull out tougher restrictions, including a third national lockdown, amid concerns the virus is spreading out of control.

SEE MORE: Hancock refuses to rule out another national lockdown 

This morning, Mr Hancock acknowledged that the current restrictions are insufficient to control the spread of the disease as he was asked about the prospect of another national lockdown.

He said: “We don’t rule anything out, and we’ve shown repeatedly that we will look at the public health advice and we will take the public health advice in terms of what is needed to control the spread of the disease.

SEE MORE: The number of Covid cases by each postcode in the North-East

“This new variant is much easier to catch, it is much more transmissible, and we’re now seeing the effect of that in lots of different parts of the country, unfortunately.

“And it means that, whereas the old Tier 3 was able to contain the old variant, that is proving increasingly difficult in all parts of the country.”

But in the North-East, latest NHS and Public Health England data has revealed the situation in each of our region's trusts.

The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is currently treating the most Covid patients in the region with 222 Covid patients being cared for according to latest data on December 30.

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is the region's second highest for Covid patients currently in hospital with 189 being cared for according to data from the same day.

In stark contrast, NHS trusts in Newcastle and Gateshead have the lowest number of Covid patients currently being cared for with 54, and 45 patients receiving treatment respectively.

Here's how each NHS Trust here compares

1. South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust - 222 Covid patients in hospital - 8 on ventilators

2. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust - 189 Covid patients in hospital - 7 on ventilators

3. North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust - 176 Covid patients in hospital - 11 on ventilators

4. South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 107 Covid patients in hospital - 16 on ventilators

5. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - 83 Covid patients in hospital - 7 on ventilators

6. Newcatle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 54 Covid patients in hospital - 9 on ventilators 

7. Gateshead Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - 45 Covid patients in hospital - 4 on ventilators 

Total number of Covid patients being cared for in the region: 876