Covid hospitalisations have increased by 250% in the South West since mid-September as UK-wide cases hit 224,000 a day.
New NHS data shows hospital patients testing positive for Covid-19 in England has climbed to its highest level for two months.
It comes after the Mirror reported the latest analysis showed millions of Brits have got Covid, with official data struggling to keep up with a rapid surge in infections.
UK health officials fear a new wave of infection is underway.
As of Wednesday (October 5), there were a total of 9,631 people in hospital with the virus - up from from 7,024 a week earlier, or 37%.
It is the highest figure since August 3, according to the UK Health Security Agency's weekly surveillance report.
The Covid-19 hospital admission rate in England is now 10.8 per 100,000 people - up from 7.5 the previous week.
In the age group with the most cases - those aged 85 or over - the figure is 132.3 per 100,000 people.
The report also says positive cases have increased by 8.3%.
As previously reported, as of Tuesday new Covid cases were at 224,000 a day - up 27 per cent on the 176,000 new daily cases a week earlier.
Latest analysis shared with the Mirror suggests one in 25 Brits now has Covid. Many more currently have the common cold.
ZOE Health symptom-tracking app, Professor Tim Spector said common colds are rising faster than Covid cases.
This could pave the way for a "twindemic" going into the winter.
He said: “We believe that the ZOE data shows we are in an autumn wave.
“Covid is currently affecting 4 per cent of the UK population and the trend is going up. If rates continue as they are, we are set to reach the same heights we did in the summer.
“Many of us are poorly right now as we are also seeing lots of colds. Three times as many people have colds compared to Covid.
“Confusingly, both seem to present with a sore throat in the early days, but if you are sneezing this could be a good sign and mean you have a cold, not Covid.
“If anyone wakes up with a sore throat, I’d recommend checking with a test just to be sure.”
Commenting on the latest figures, Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at UKHSA, said: "This week's data shows concerning further increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisation rates, which are now at their highest level in months.
"Outbreaks in hospitals and care homes are also on the rise."
She warned people with any symptoms of a respiratory virus to stay away from the elderly and vulnerable.
