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The number of patients in Kent hospitals with Covid-19 has skyrocketed beyond the spring peak.
The NHS in Kent confirmed late Friday that it would postpone non-urgent operations as doctors struggle to cope with the second wave of the pandemic.
The growing number of people being treated for coronavirus in the county comes as the government is reportedly considering imposing stricter restrictions on the region.
The latest figures show there are 934 Covid patients in hospitals across the county, up from 622 during the spring peak, a 50% increase.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust had 201 people with coronavirus occupying beds on Tuesday, more than double the 98 treated in the first peak on April 8.
Meanwhile, the East Kent Hospitals Trust had 349 Covid patients on December 15. This is 86% higher than its previous high of 187 on April 20.
An NHS spokesperson in Kent said on Friday: “We are working hard to ensure that we treat as many patients as possible, while ensuring that we provide a safe hospital environment.
“However, the increase in numbers has meant difficult decisions to prioritize more urgent cases.”
They promised that urgent treatments like cancer operations “will go ahead as normal.”
At Medway Maritime Hospital, the number of Covid patients has dropped from a high of 234 on November 30 to 209 on Tuesday. But this is still 53% higher than the 136 patients in their wards on April 10.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust also surpassed its spring peak of 111 coronavirus patients, and 120 were treated on December 15.
It occurs when the number of positive Covid tests in Kent and Medway has more than doubled in the space of a month.
The county’s total case count for the entire pandemic was 24,112 on Nov. 13. By December 13, this had skyrocketed 128% to 54,998.
The government fears that a new mutant strain of coronavirus, said to have originated in Kent, is responsible for the increase in cases.
Ministers met last night to discuss whether to impose tougher restrictions on the county. They can include travel restrictions or prohibit people from entering and leaving London.
The news comes after it was confirmed that Kent would remain at Level 3, along with two-thirds of the country.
The number of Covid patients treated by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust was 47 on December 15, compared to its peak of 73 on May 19.
The Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust currently has eight coronavirus patients. Their highest number was 17 on April 9.
Read more: All the latest news from Kent
