The number of Covid patients in local hospitals more than tripled in the last month, according to the latest data.

On July 9 West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was experiencing a seven-day average of 87.4 patients in hospital with Covid compared with 28.6 on June 9.

Borehamwood Times: COVID cases in Watford Graph: Gov.UKCOVID cases in Watford Graph: Gov.UK

The latest single day figures from the government website, for July 12, are even higher with 105 Covid patients in trust hospitals.

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At a media briefing on Wednesday discussing the latest Covid situation, Hertfordshire's director of public health, Jim McManus, indicated that the country had reached the peak of the current infection wave, but there appeares to be wave peaks around every three months.

Borehamwood Times: COVID patients in West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Graph: Gov.UKCOVID patients in West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Graph: Gov.UK

The previous peak on April 19 involved an average of 126.4 people in hospital.

Borehamwood Times: COVID patients in West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Graph: Gov.UKCOVID patients in West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Graph: Gov.UK

Due to relatively recent changes - such as paid for tests and non-mandatory isolation - Covid infection rate figures are thought to be less reliable than before.

On July 8, 68 cases were officially recorded in Watford's local authority with a seven-day average of 16.1 on June 8.

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