The number of patients in Kent's hospitals with Covid-19 has soared past the Spring peak.

The NHS in Kent confirmed on Friday evening that it would be postponing non-urgent operations as medics battle to cope with the pandemic's second wave.

The surging number of people being treated for coronavirus in the county comes as the Government is reportedly considering imposing tougher restrictions on the region.

Latest figures show there are 934 patients with Covid in hospitals across the county, compared to 622 during the Spring peak - a rise of 50%.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust had 201 people with coronavirus occupying beds on Tuesday, more than double the 98 being treated in the first peak on April 8.

Meanwhile, the East Kent Hospitals Trust had 349 Covid patients on December 15. This is 86% higher than its previous peak of 187 on April 20.

A spokesperson for the NHS in Kent said on Friday: “We are working hard to ensure we treat as many patients as possible, while ensuring we provide a safe hospital environment.

“However, the increase in numbers has meant difficult decisions to prioritise cases of higher urgency.”

They promised that urgent treatments such as cancer operations “will go ahead as normal”.

At Medway Maritime Hospital, the number of Covid patients has dropped from a high of 234 on November 30 to 209 on Tuesday. But this is still 53% higher than the 136 patients on its wards on April 10.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has also passed its Spring peak of 111 coronavirus patients, with 120 being treated on December 15.

It comes as the number of positive Covid tests in Kent and Medway has more than doubled in the space of a month.

The total tally of the county's cases for the entire pandemic was 24,112 on November 13. By December 13, this had rocketed by 128% to 54,998.

The Government fears a new mutant strain of coronavirus, said to have originated in Kent, is responsible for the surge in cases.

Ministers met last night to discuss whether to impose tougher restrictions on the county. They may include restrictions on travel or banning people from commuting in and out of London.

The news comes after it was confirmed that Kent would be remaining in Tier 3 - along with two thirds of the country.

The number of Covid patients being treated by the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust was 47 on December 15, compared to its peak of 73 on May 19.

The Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust currently has eight patients with coronavirus. Its highest number was 17 on April 9.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent