The trust which runs Colchester Hospital was caring for 45 coronavirus patients in as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust's hospitals for Covid-19 by 8am on April 27 was down from 55 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 55 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 29.

Across England there were 1,310 people in hospital with Covid as of April 27, with 196 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 60 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 62 per cent.

The figures also show that 34 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in East Suffolk and North Essex Trust in the week to April 25.

This was down from 43 in the previous seven days.

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The Covid-19 infection rate in Colchester for the seven days to April 25 is now 12.8 cases per 100,000. 

This is the same as the week previously. 

In both weeks 25 tested positive for Covid-19. 

In Tendring the rate is now 14.3 cases per 100,000 people. 

Of the 315 local areas in England, 149 (47%) have seen a rise in rates, 154 (49%) have seen a fall and 12 are unchanged.

Selby in North Yorkshire continues to have the highest rate, with 97 new cases in the seven days to April 25 – the equivalent of 107.0 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up from 56.3 in the seven days to April 18.

North Lincolnshire has the second highest rate, up from 52.2 to 72.6, with 125 new cases.

Kirklees has the third highest, up from 59.1 to 70.7, with 311 new cases.