Somerset Trust was caring for 51 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 August 9 was down from 71 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 48% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 98.

Across England there were 8,624 people in hospital with Covid as of August 9, with 233 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 37% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 12%.

The figures also show that 42 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in the week to August 7. This was down from 68 in the previous seven days.