THE number of people in hospital with Covid remains steady in Dorset - despite the rapid rise in Omicron cases across the country.

In Bournemouth and Poole, 63 people were admitted to University Hospitals Dorset Trust between December 6 and December 12.

A further 10 people were also admitted to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester in the same week.

Meanwhile, figures show four patients were admitted to the Dorset Healthcare Trust (DHT) during the same one-week period.

As of December 14, there were 59 people occupying a hospital bed with the virus in University Hospitals Dorset.

There were 17 patients at Dorset County Hospital occupying a bed and sevenpeople at DHT.

Across England, 6,434 people were occupying a hospital bed with coronavirus - down from 6,623 this time last month - and 565 in the south west.

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Of people needing mechanical ventilation, four patients at the University Hospitals Dorset Trust required a ventilator, three people required a ventilator at Dorset County Hospital and no patients at the DHT needed mechanical ventilation.

Across England, 795 patients needed a ventilator and 65 people in the south west with coronavirus required a ventilator.