Great Western Hospitals Trust was caring for 49 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, NHS England figures show.

The data shows that the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on November 17 was up from 36 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Great Western Hospitals Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 more than tripled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 16.

Across England there were 14,411 people in hospital with Covid as of November 17, with 1,228 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The numbers of Covid-19 patients being hospitalised and those on mechanical ventilators have more than doubled in the last four weeks across England.

The figures also show that 43 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Great Western Hospitals Trust in the week to November 15. This was up from 33 in the previous seven days.

The Government has implemented a second lockdown for England, which is due to be in place until December 2.

With trials for new vaccines showing promise, preparations are starting for mass vaccination centres to be set up across the country.