Latest NHS data reveals England's worst-hit hospital trusts as the number of Covid patients soars.
Hospitals in London, the Midlands, Essex, Surrey, Liverpool and Portsmouth are among those treating the highest number of people with the virus.
Earlier today the Mirror reported there has been a 48 per cent increase in hospitalised patients since December 29.
Figures released by NHS England reveal that on Tuesday the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust was treating 886 people with coronavirus - the highest number in the country.
Of the 20 hospitals with the highest number of Covid patients, nine are in the London.
Scroll down for the full list, and a regional breakdown
Barts Health NHS Trust was not far behind with 824, a week after a major incident was declared by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Across England there were 32,202 people in hospital with the virus on Tuesday, the latest data available shows.
Just two weeks earlier, on December 29, that figure was 21,787 - meaning the number has risen by 48 per cent.
Earlier today England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, warned that the number of daily deaths would remain high for at least a week before finally starting to fall.
He said he believed the peak of deaths is "in the future" after the UK recorded 1,280 new deaths today.
The 20 NHS trusts treating the highest number of Covid-19 patients
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust - 886
- Barts Health NHS Trust - 824
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust - 801
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - 755
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust - 609
- Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust - 503
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust - 503
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust - 478
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust - 475
- London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust - 473
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust - 468
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust - 464
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust - 422
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 414
- Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust - 403
- East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust - 397
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - 387
- St George's University NHS Foundation Trust - 381
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 377
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust - 365
Earlier this week 7,606 people were being treated with the virus in London hospitals, the highest in the country.
This was up 2,235 from December 29's figure of 5,371.
The same pattern is repeated across the country, with 3,785 Covid patients in hospital in the North West this week compared to 2,352 two weeks before.
Alarming new data has shown parts of Merseyside are emerging as the country's worst hotspots after a surge in cases.
Number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 by region
- East of England - 4,260, up from 3,520 a week earlier, and 2,922 a fortnight before
- London - 7,606, up from 6,816 a week earlier, and 5,371 a fortnight before
- Midlands - 5,630, up from 4,553 a week earlier, and 3,694 a fortnight before
- North East and Yorkshire - 3,429, up from 2,860 a week earlier, and 2,528 a fortnight before
- North West - 3,785, up from 2,925 a week earlier, and 2,352 a fortnight before
- South East - 5,546, up from 4,379 a week earlier, and 3,796 a fortnight before
- South West - 1,946, up from 1,414 a week earlier, and 1,124 a fortnight before
A month earlier, on December 12, there were 13,927 people in hospital - a 131 per cent rise.
On Tuesday, there were 4,134 new admissions to hospital, up from 2,886 two weeks earlier.
Number of admissions per region on Tuesday compared to two weeks before
- East of England - 518, up from 373 a fortnight earlier
- London - 875, up from 679 a fortnight earlier
- Midlands - 862, up from 562 a fortnight earlier
- North East and Yorkshire - 463, up from 363 a fortnight earlier
- North West - 467, up from 257 a fortnight earlier
- South East - 630, up from 504 a fortnight earlier
- South West - 319, up from 148 a fortnight earlier
Covid deaths look set to keep rising for at least a week, Prof Whitty indicated in a bleak warning.
He said he believed the peak of deaths is "in the future" after the UK recorded 1,280 new deaths today.
The Chief Medical Officer said there were signs the UK has already reached the peak of new cases amid the national lockdown.
But he said while some parts of England are reaching the peak of new hospital cases round about now, "most places" will only do so in 7 to 10 days.
The peak of deaths will come "later still", he added, because of the time it takes seriously ill people to succumb to the disease.
It comes despite Boris Johnson telling tonight's No10 press conference there were early signs of a turn in the daily numbers.
The Prime Minister said hospitals “have been coping magnificently” and there were “some tentative early signs that the pressure may be slightly easing in London now".
But he added: "It is far too early to be remotely confident about that.”
Prof Whitty told the Downing Street briefing: “We expect the peak of the infections we hope to occur, we hope, already in some parts of the country particularly the South East, East of England and London, where there was initially a big surge with the new variant.
“And it is fantastic that that is beginning to happen, and thanks to what everyone has done.
“Other areas that went into lockdown a bit later, the peak of the infections will be later."
