Dorset County Hospital Trust was caring for eight 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 January 18 was down from 18 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 five in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 13.

Meanwhile, Dorset Healthcare University Trust was caring for two coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday,.

That was down from seven on the same day the previous week.

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There were seven beds occupied by Covid-19 patients four weeks ago in Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.

Across England there were 16,218 people in hospital with Covid as of January 18, with 614 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally more than doubled in the last four weeks, however the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 19%.

The figures also show that five new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the week to January 16. This was down from 20 in the previous seven days.