More than 100 Covid-19 patients were being cared for in West Hertfordshire Hospitals.

NHS England data shows that 105 people were being treated for coronavirus at the NHS trust as of 8am last Tuesday (December 8).

This was up from 79 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 87.5 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 56.

The figures also show that 74 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust in the week to December 6. This was up from 51 in the previous seven days.

Watford Observer:

Parts of Hertfordshire have been moved into Tier 3. Photo: PA

The data was taken just a week before Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that the south of Hertfordshire would move into Tier 3 restrictions.

Watford, Hertsmere, Three Rivers, and Broxbourne are the four areas in the county that moved into Tier 3 today. London and parts of Essex also moved to the tougher restrictions.

But Hertfordshire County Council leader David Williams warned that other parts of the county could join these areas as the Government reviews the tiers today.

Tier 3 restrictions mean pubs and restaurants will close except for delivery and takeaway.

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Shops, gyms and salons can stay open. Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums. Theatres, bowling alleys and cinemas must stay closed.

The weekly Covid-19 infection rates in Watford and Hertsmere have now exceeded 200.

In Watford, 275 more people tested positive in the seven days to December 10 - making the infection rate 284.7 per 100,000 people. This is an increase from the previous seven days to December 3, when there were 176 new positive cases and the infection rate was 182.2.

In Hertsmere, there were 272 more positive tests in the seven days to December 10 - an infection rate of 259.2.

And in Three Rivers, there were 170 new cases in the same seven days. The infection rate is 182.2.