THE number of patients currently in hospital with Covid in the region has tripled in the space of just two weeks, alarming NHS figures reveal.

Figures for hospital admissions, care and ventilators have increased dramatically just days before almost all remaining restrictions are lifted on July 19.

It comes as the rate of infection in the North East continues to be among the highest in the UK, with all 14 council areas seeing a surge in cases in the past week.

Meanwhile, concerned North East leaders have been this week urging the Government to continue the legal requirement to wear face coverings mandatory on public transport.

The data, which shows the situation in the region's hospitals, shows just two weeks ago, 222 patients were being cared for - but as of latest data, 657 are currently in hospital.

The Northern Echo:

It also shows that the number of patients needing a mechanical ventilator in the region's hospitals due to Covid has almost tripled from 29 to 85 over the same time frame. 

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, Newcastle NHS Trust, and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust are among those with the highest number of patients in care.

Read more: This is the Covid situation in the North East's hospitals - as figures revealed

Figures show that hospitalisations due to Covid have been creeping up since the first week of June, with admissions surging in the past two weeks.

Here's the situation so far...

Due to the way hospital figures are reported, the latest available data (as of July 14) for the region is more up to date than each individual trust. 

It means that on trust level, the data reported is several days behind, meaning that the figures could actually be higher or slightly lower than what we have reported.

The North East and Yorkshire NHS region

- July 14 

Patients admitted: 142

Patients in hospital: 657 

Patients on ventilator: 85

- July 7

Patients admitted: 111

Patients in hospital: 420

Patients on ventilator: 66

- June 30

Patients admitted: 70

Patients in hospital: 222

Patients on ventilator: 29

- June 23

Patients admitted: 42

Patients in hospital: 177

Patients on ventilator: 24

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 18 

Patients in hospital: 41

Patients on ventilator: 4 

- June 30

Patients admitted: 10 

Patients in hospital:24

Patients on ventilator: 3

- June 23

Patients admitted: 4

Patients in hospital: 11

Patients on ventilator: 2

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust​

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 11

Patients in hospital: 30

Patients on ventilator: 7

- June 30

Patients admitted: 1

Patients in hospital: 16

Patients on ventilator: 4

- June 23

Patients admitted: 1

Patients in hospital: 14

Patients on ventilator: 4

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 2

Patients in hospital: 8 

Patients on ventilator: 1

- June 30

Patients admitted: 5

Patients in hospital: 3

Patients on ventilator: 0

- June 23

Patients admitted: 0

Patients in hospital: 3

Patients on ventilator: 1

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 9

Patients in hospital: 28 

Patients on ventilator: 0

- June 30

Patients admitted: 4

Patients in hospital: 6

Patients on ventilator: 0

- June 23

Patients admitted: 1

Patients in hospital: 2

Patients on ventilator: 0

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 5

Patients in hospital: 13 

Patients on ventilator: 2

- June 30

Patients admitted: 3

Patients in hospital: 6

Patients on ventilator: 0

- June 23

Patients admitted: 0

Patients in hospital: 5

Patients on ventilator: 1

Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 4

Patients in hospital: 38

Patients on ventilator: 6

- June 30

Patients admitted: 4

Patients in hospital: 23

Patients on ventilator: 3

- June 23

Patients admitted: 5

Patients in hospital: 14

Patients on ventilator: 5

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

- July 4/6

Patients admitted: 4

Patients in hospital: 13

Patients on ventilator: 8

- June 30

Patients admitted: 1

Patients in hospital: 16

Patients on ventilator: 3

- June 23

Patients admitted: 5

Patients in hospital: 9

Patients on ventilator: 2

To view the figures in more detail - click here 

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