LATEST data on the amount of Covid-19 patients at St Mary's Hospital has shown a rise in admissions.

As of Tuesday, January 12, there were 66 Covid patients in St Mary's, compared to 40, one week previously.

On January 12, 11 patients were on ventilators, the government data shows.

At least five patients also died that day.

Isle of Wight County Press: Data from St Mary's Hospital, showing the number of patients on MV beds.Data from St Mary's Hospital, showing the number of patients on MV beds.

There were 69 patients admitted in the week leading up to Sunday, January 10. The amount of patients treated at St Mary's by January 3 was 355, since the start of the pandemic, but by January 10, this figure was at 424.

There is a lag in the data, by a few days, and it is only released weekly.

Isle of Wight County Press: Data from St Mary's Hospital, showing daily count of Covid patients.Data from St Mary's Hospital, showing daily count of Covid patients.

The hospital has seen 26 deaths already during January.

As cases soared this month, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust's medical director Stephen Parker said military helicopters could be used to transport patients to the mainland.

There is a plan for firefighters to drive ambulances on the Island, if needed.