THE number of patients with Covid being treated at hospital in Herefordshire has hit an eight-month high over the last week, latest figures show.

NHS England data showed 26 people were being cared for in hospital by the Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs Hereford County Hospital, on Tuesday (October 26)

That was three more as on the same day the previous week (October 19).

It comes two weeks after Arrow ward at Hereford County Hospital shut its doors to visitors due to patients testing positive for coronavirus.

A spokesperson said Arrow Ward, a respiratory and cardiac medicine ward, was temporarily closed to visitors due to a small number of cases, with their close contacts traced.

The number of patients in the week to Tuesday peaked at 27 on October 20 and 22. This was the highest number at the trust since on a single day since February 10.

The latest figures also showed that 21 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Herefordshire in the week to Sunday, October 25.

The week before, that number was 15.

The number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds, those used for the most seriously ill, was one on October 20.

On October 14, there were no patients in the beds.