THE number of coronavirus patients on mechanical ventilators at Herefordshire's hospitals has risen over the last week, latest NHS figures show.

The data revealed the Wye Valley NHS Trust was caring for 26 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday (December 1), the same number as at the beginning of November.

It also shows that the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on December 1 had fallen from 27 at the same time last week.

But during the week to December 1, the number of coronavirus patients peaked at 29 on November 29.

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At the Wye Valley NHS Trust there were five people on mechanical ventilators, used for the most seriously ill patients, as of December 1. That number had risen by four over the week, and peaked at six.

The figures also show that 13 new Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital in Wye Valley NHS Trust in the week to November 29. This was down from 14 in the previous seven days.

No patients were admitted with Covid-19 from care homes, compared with two the previous week.

Other figures from NHS England show three patients died between November 24 and 4pm on December 2 at the Wye Valley NHS Trust after testing positive for coronavirus

The three deaths were on November 24, 26 and 29.

Meanwhile, Public Health England figures show that 2,520 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday (December 3) in Herefordshire, up from 2,511 the same time on Wednesday.