Coronavirus: hospital admissions in England surge 33% as Covid infections spiral

Patients being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 have increased by a third in England, with the sharpest rise in the south east, NHS data has revealed.

During the week to 25 October, there were 6,661 people admitted to hospital with coronavirus across the country, a 33% increase from 5,009 the previous week. The number of patients treated on a bed with a mechanical ventilator was up by 25%, the official figures show.

In the south east, the number of hospital admissions rose by 53.3%, from 276 to 423, with the number of Covid-19 patients receiving ventilator treatment up by 68.6%. There was also a significant rise in the east of England, where admissions rose by 52.2%, with the number of ventilator patients increasing by 36.8%.

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Although total new admissions for Covid patients remained highest in the Midlands, the north west, the north east and Yorkshire, the rate of admissions has “surged” in regions that have not been placed under the strictest lockdown measures, The Times says.

Nottinghamshire has moved into tier three of restrictions after an overall rise in infection rates, with West Yorkshire to follow suit on Monday.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals in Nottinghamshire is 40% higher than the previous peak in April. “Even a well-organised NHS and care system will struggle to cope,” the county’s public health director, Jonathan Gribbin said.

Ministers have refused to rule out the introduction of Tier 4 restrictions. There were an additional 280 deaths within 28 days of a first positive Covid-19 test recorded yesterday, bringing the overall total to 45,955.