THE number of coronavirus patients being cared for in hospital in Herefordshire has hit a five-month low, figures show.

The Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs Hereford County Hospital, was caring for five coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday.

The NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on March 23 was down from seven on the same day the previous week.

The four patients being treated on March 22 was the lowest number in the county's hospital since October 3 when there were just three patients.

The number of beds at Wye Valley NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 71 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 17.

Across England there were 4,245 people in hospital with Covid as of March 23, with 647 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

No patients have been on ventilators in Herefordshire since March 15.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 69 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 67 per cent.

The figures also show that seven new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Wye Valley NHS Trust in the week to March 21. This was up from four in the previous seven days.