Rising infection rates have seen the number of Covid patients in Kent rise by 63% in a week.

Outbreaks across the county have led to a spike in the number of people in hospital with the virus.

There were just 56 Covid patients at the start of last month, but by Tuesday of this week that number had increased to 309.

While many are being treated for something other than the virus, the logistics of keeping infected patients apart is putting added pressure on healthcare staff.

East Kent Hospitals - one of the largest trusts in the UK - is treating the most Covid patients, following a 66% weekly rise from 65 to 108.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, and Dartford and Gravesham, have also seen increases, recording spikes of 77% and 12% respectively.

But it’s at Medway Maritime where the situation has changed most significantly, with patient numbers more than doubling from 24 to 54.

Across all four trusts the number of Covid patients on a ventilator has increased from one to seven over the last week.

The rises correlate with rising infection rates since the start of June.

In the week up to July 1 there were 3,974 new cases in Kent - up 25% - and 637 in Medway - a jump of 27%.

Trish Mannes, the deputy director of UK Health Security Agency South East, says the public must remain vigilant.

"As we now look forward to life without restrictions and head into the social summer holiday period, we must keep in mind that the virus has not gone away," she said.

"In fact, in recent weeks we have seen a rise in cases in Kent, with a shift in the dominant strain from the Omicron BA.2 variant.

"The latest data indicates that Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 now account for more than half of rising Covid-19 cases in the UK and are driving the recent increase in infections."

Ms Mannes says face masks remain an important tool in reducing transmission, and advises people to still consider wearing coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces.

Rules making masks mandatory at the county's hospitals were recently lifted.

Each trust follows national guidance for infection prevention and control

An NHS Kent and Medway spokesperson said: “We are seeing increased Covid-19 cases in hospitals in Kent and Medway through community transmission – this is happening across the country.

"It does not necessarily mean more patients are being admitted because of Covid, but that they are being admitted for other reasons and found to be positive.

"Services continue to run as normal. We greatly appreciate the support of our communities and ask that all visitors continue to observe infection prevention and control measures in place for each NHS site they visit.’’

There were 33 recorded deaths in Kent and Medway last month within 28 days of a positive Covid test, although the virus will not necessarily have been the primary cause.