MORE than 40 coronavirus patients are in the care of Southampton's biggest hospital, figures show.

University Hospital Southampton Trust was caring for 41 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on September 28 was in line with the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 decreased by 24 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 54.

Across England there were 5,126 people in hospital with Covid as of September 28, with 681 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has decreased by 19 per cent in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 23 per cent.

The figures also show that 21 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in the week to September 26.

This was down from 22 in the previous seven days.

It comes as Boris Johnson said being unvaccinated could mean you are nine times more likely to die of Covid.

Speaking at a coronavirus announcement last month, Johnson revealed plans for tackling the virus this autumn and winter, which included a booster jab programme.

He cited high levels of people being vaccinated as bringing greater protection but warned those who are not vaccinated are up to nine times more likely to die, depending on their age, than if they have had both jabs.

Professor Chris Whitty said Public Health England data shows in every age bracket there is a “very substantially smaller” risk of being admitted to hospital with Covid if someone is vaccinated compared to those who are not jabbed.

Figures released on Thursday revealed that total of 191,771 people tested positive for Covid in England in the week to 22 September - a rise of 18 per cent on the week prior..

According to government data released on Wednesday, the UK recorded more than 36,700 new Covid-19 infections and more than 150 more coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period.