YEOVIL District 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 August 24 was down from 23 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 27% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 11.

The Somerset NHS Trust  - which includes Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton - had 34 Covid patients.

Across England there were 5,911 people in hospital with Covid as of August 24, with 857 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 14% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 16%.

The figures also show that four new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the week to August 22. This was down from 18 in the previous seven days.