THE number of Covid patients in Cheshire hospitals remains low still, despite a surge in the number of confirmed cases reported across the county.

Latest weekly hospital data available showed that, as of the morning of Tuesday, June 15, there were a total of 10 Covid patients being treated at the county's four hospital trusts.

That number was up one from the previous week's nine, but the same number as the total being treated two weeks ago on June 1.

There are three Covid patients at the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust, five at the Mid Cheshire Hospital Trust, two at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals Trust and none at East Cheshire.

Of the three patients at the Countess trust, two were reported as being on mechanical ventilator beds.

At the peak of the pandemic, more than 800 patients were being treated for coronavirus across Cheshire's hospitals in January.

The relatively low number of Covid patient admissions will be seen as positive news amid the continually rising number of confirmed Covid cases across the county.

In recent weeks, the number of people testing positive for coronavirus had dwindled down to single figures per day, as a result of extended lockdown measures and the roll-out of the vaccine programme.

But the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant, as well as lockdown measures easing, has led infection rates to rise rapidly in recent weeks.

The majority of cases are being detected in younger people, who are much more likely to have not been vaccinated or had only one dose so far.

For Cheshire West and Chester, the number of cases had been highest in those aged 15-19, but there are now proportionally more cases in those aged 20-24.

It is expected that all adults aged 18 or above will be offered the chance to obtain a Covid vaccine by the end of this week, in a milestone achievement for the NHS as part of the vaccine roll-out.

To book, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or call 119 free of charge.