Visitors at Basildon, Southend and Broomfield Hospitals will now need to wear masks in wards and inpatient areas, as bosses reintroduce the safety measure.

Bosses at Mid and South Essex NHS Trust which runs the three Essex hospitals say visitors are required to wear masks as of yesterday.

It comes as the number of people in the Essex hospitals with Covid has risen.

The bosses announced the change on Facebook and the website, the website says: "Although there is no need to wear a face mask in public areas of the hospital, please wear a mask when visiting all wards and inpatient areas. This will help us keep our staff and patients safe.

"We will continue to provide surgical masks in public spaces, wards and departments for patients, visitors and staff who wish to use them."

Mid and South Essex Trust was caring for 106 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on September 28 was up from 63 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 56% in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 68.

Across England there were 7,024 people in hospital with Covid as of September 28, with 160 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 24% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 11%.