The number of coronavirus patients being treated at Croydon University Hospital has more than trebled in the past month.

The hospital in London Road is currently caring for 56 patients with Covid-19 including five who are on ventilation.

The latest government data shows that four people with the virus were admitted to the hospital on Sunday (August 8).

This compares to the 17 patients the hospital was caring for on July 1. There was a sharp increase in cases in the borough in July which then dropped but the rate is now creeping up again.

The hospital has been hard hit and has cared for more than 3,000 patients since the start of the pandemic.

In January when cases were peaking the hospital was looking after more than 200 Covid-19 patients.

Councillor Janet Campbell, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for health has urged locals to regularly test themselves for Covid-19 to stop the virus spreading.

Speaking outside a pop-up testing site at Croydon Voluntary Action in London Road on August 6, she said: “It is imperative that we get ourselves tested for coronavirus.

“We’ve had 1,000 deaths in Croydon and I’ve been the recipient of a death within my family and I really do encourage you to get tested to keep Croydon safe and open.”

The latest data for the borough shows that there was a rate of 281 cases per 100,000 people for the week up to August 3 this is up from a rate of 147 in the previous week.

This compares to a rate of 265 and 283 per 100,000 in London and England respectively.