HOSPITAL staff in Lancashire are caring for 44 coronavirus patients, the latest figures show - a drop in the number being treated the week before.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on June 22 was down from 56 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 more than doubled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 15.

Across England there were 1,301 people in hospital with Covid as of June 22, with 229 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 70 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 96 per cent.

The figures also show that 43 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in the week to June 20. This was down from 48 in the previous seven days.

Meanwhile the trust registered four new deaths on June 24.

NHS England figures show 1,040 people had died in hospital at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as of 5pm on Thursday.

That was an increase of four compared to Wednesday, when there were 1,036.