ALMOST 200 patients with coronavirus are being treated across hospitals in Dorset, according to latest figures.

A total of 194 patients were being cared for at the county's hospital trusts at the most recent count on Tuesday.

The figures from NHS England include 143 patients being cared for at University Hospitals Dorset Trust.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on February 16 was down from 191 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 64 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 402.

The figures also show that 133 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in the week to February 14. This was down from 137 in the previous seven days.

Meanwhile Dorset County Hospital Trust was caring for 29 coronavirus patients in hospital.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on February 16 was down from 45 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 65 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 83.

The figures also show that 26 new covid patients were admitted to hospital in Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the week to February 14. This was down from 31 in the previous seven days.

And at another trust, Dorset Healthcare University Trust, there were 22 coronavirus patients being cared for as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on February 16 was down from 33 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 67 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 67.

The figures also show that 10 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust in the week to February 14. This was down from 26 in the previous seven days.

Across England there were 17,093 people in hospital with Covid as of February 16, with 2,484 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 50 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 31 per cent.