The number of coronavirus patients at County Durham and Darlington Trust has soared over the last three months - but figures are now starting to decline.

NHS England data shows 34 people were being cared for in hospital by the trust on Tuesday, August 17.

The number of beds at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased more than five-fold, from six on May 18 – the day after pubs and restaurants were allowed to seat customers inside and the cap on outdoor gatherings was raised to 30 people.

Last month the fourth and last step of the Government’s roadmap was also reached, when capacity limits for venues and events were scrapped and social distancing rules ended.

But now, the figures show the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid on August 17 was down from 49 on the same day the previous week.

They also show that 84 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the week to August 15 – a decrease from 110 the previous seven days.

Across England there were 5,437 people in hospital with Covid as of August 17, with 825 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased more than seven-fold since May 18 and is 40 per cent higher than it was four weeks ago, when 3,894 people were in hospital with the virus.

Across England there were 5,437 people in hospital with Covid as of August 17, with 825 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased more than seven-fold since May 18 and is 40 per cent higher than it was four weeks ago, when 3,894 people were in hospital with the virus.​

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has urged people not to delay getting their Covid-19 vaccine, warning there were some “very sick” young adults in hospital with the virus.

His comments came as separate figures from Public Health England showed that 55 per cent of people in hospital with the Delta variant – which is dominant in the UK – have not been jabbed.

The UK’s vaccine programme has so far seen three-quarters of adults double-jabbed.

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