The number of patients in hospital with coronavirus has soared to record highs across Kent.

At all four of the county's hospital trusts there are now far more people receiving care who have tested positive for Covid-19 than at the peak of the first wave.

But the numbers of people seriously ill on ventilators has not surpassed April's figures.

Across Kent there are 1,012 patients in hospital, 90% more than the 532 seen during the peak of the first wave.

At East Kent Hospitals - a trust which runs Ashford's William Harvey, Kent and Canterbury and Margate's QEQM - there are currently 364 Covid-19 patients, 28 of which are on ventilators.

That compares to peaks of 187 and 35 during the first wave, a period when the trust hit the headlines for its high figures for in-hospital transmission and deaths.

Medway Maritime is caring for 227 patients, including 10 on ventilators, compared to April peaks of 136 and 27.

At Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, which manages two hospitals, the figure is now 253 and 15, against 98 and 25.

And there are 168 patients, with five on ventilators, at Darent Valley, compared to peaks of 111 and 20 in April.

Medical experts have said Covid-19 patients making up anything over 20% of a hospital's capacity represents a dangerous level.

None of the Kent's hospitals were below that.

At East Kent Covid patients represented 35% of the trust's 1,030 beds.

At Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells it was 27%, at Darent Valley 31% and at Medway it was 34%.

The figures come as images are published showing ambulances queueing at Medway Maritime.

While every year winter puts immense pressure on the NHS and ambulances have been known to queue before, this year Covid-19 represents a new strain on that already struggling system.

This morning NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens warned doctors were "back in the eye of the storm".

Meanwhile there were early signs that the soaring number of infections that saw Kent placed into Tier 4 restrictions were starting to plateau.

Four districts, including hard-hit Thanet and Swale, saw drops and the 7.7% county-wide weekly increase was far below what it has been in previous weeks and the increase currently being seen across England.

It is thought infections rose rapidly in Kent due to a new strain of the virus which originated here.

The fact cases now seem to be levelling off while rocketing elsewhere mirrors what has happened previously when different parts of the country appeared to be behind others.

Our interactive map shows how cases have increased or decreased where you are.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.