Somerset Trust was caring for 43 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Wednesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on October 5 was up from 21 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 59% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 27.

Across England there were 9,631 people in hospital with Covid as of October 5, with 195 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 98% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 67%.

The figures also show that 44 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in the week to October 3. This was up from 31 in the previous seven days.