Somerset Trust was caring for 51 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on July 19 was down from 98 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 21% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 42.

Across England there were 13,837 people in hospital with Covid as of July 19, with 318 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has more than doubled in the last four weeks, as has the number on mechanical ventilators.

The figures also show that 63 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in the week to July 17. This was down from 100 in the previous seven days.