Somerset Trust was caring for 79 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 26 was up from 51 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 58% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 50.

Across England there were 12,113 people in hospital with Covid as of July 26, with 290 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 49% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 41%.

The figures also show that 88 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in the week to July 24. This was up from 63 in the previous seven days.