The medical director at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has warned it's too soon to say if the current lockdown is bringing down the rate of coronavirus infections.
Dr Deepak Dwarakanath says figures don't suggest a turning point has been reached yet.
"We're averaging about 30 new patients coming into the hospital with Covid every day," he said.
"We are sadly seeing about six people a day die of Covid and this is a deeply distressing time for the families and our staff.
"This is a very sad situation."
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS TrustCopyright: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust
Dr Dwarakanath is urging people to adhere to the lockdown rules and stay at home.
"The number of admissions going up each day means that we've topped the 200 mark once again. This is a massive strain on our hospital or any other hospital in the country.
"This disease can not be trivialised, the types of patients we're seeing being admitted now are quite different to those in the first wave.
"Talking to our senior respiratory physicians, we're seeing 30 and 40-year-olds being admitted with serious illness requiring oxygen and a lot of them needing intensive care therapy."
A woman in her eighties has died after the car she was travelling in hit a tree in Guisborough.
It happened on Wednesday at 16:40 at the junction of The Avenue and Stokesley Road, when the car, a Peugeot 307 which was being driven by a man in his eighties, left the road.
They were both taken to James Cook University Hospital with multiple injuries, but the woman later died.
Officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit are appealing for anyone who may have seen what happened to contact them.
Video caption: The car was driven into a ford in North Yorkshire where it became stuck.The car was driven into a ford in North Yorkshire where it became stuck.
The car, which was being driven across counties by a man from Middlesbrough, was found stuck in a ford in North Yorkshire.
BBC launches temporary output in Sunderland
The BBC is launching new temporary output in Sunderland to help people during lockdown.
BBC Radio Sunderland will start on Monday providing more localised news and information for people in the city, and is due to broadcast until March.
It will be
live on DAB radio and online, weekdays from 06:00 to 14:00
Chris Burns, head of BBC Local Radio,
said: "We are here for people right across England in these extraordinary
times and are determined to help communities stay informed, connected and safe
during this most challenging period."
She said listeners will "get a better sense of what is happening in their area and will feel more
in touch with their community even as they stay at home".
BBC Radio Sunderland will provide news and sport coverage, reflect life in the city and celebrate good news happening in communities.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Gilly Hope (pictured left) will present the breakfast show from 06:00 to 10:00 followed by Tamsin Robson (pictured right) from 10:00 to 14:00
Gilly joined the BBC in 2004 and is a well-known voice to BBC Radio Newcastle listeners and viewers of regional TV.
She said: "I can’t wait to present the breakfast show on BBC Radio Sunderland, waking up people across my home city and finding the stories that matter to us on Wearside."
Tamsin joined BBC Radio Newcastle in January last year and presents the station’s Upload show.
She said: "To present mid-mornings is a dream come true and I can't wait to share inspirational stories of the local community and lots of laughter with you."
BBC Radio Sunderland will be available from Monday online at bbc.co.uk/radiosunderland or via DAB digital radio.
The MFC Foundation ensures that the funds are also to be used for sustainable food options in Tees Valley.
Foundation head Helena Bowman says it is a "significant investment" and will help them scale up their work in the community.
Barclays partners in the UK include groups who are meeting the immediate needs of low-income families, those facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people, NHS staff and key workers.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
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Read more'Too early to tell if latest lockdown has worked'
The medical director at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has warned it's too soon to say if the current lockdown is bringing down the rate of coronavirus infections.
Dr Deepak Dwarakanath says figures don't suggest a turning point has been reached yet.
"We're averaging about 30 new patients coming into the hospital with Covid every day," he said.
"We are sadly seeing about six people a day die of Covid and this is a deeply distressing time for the families and our staff.
"This is a very sad situation."
Dr Dwarakanath is urging people to adhere to the lockdown rules and stay at home.
"The number of admissions going up each day means that we've topped the 200 mark once again. This is a massive strain on our hospital or any other hospital in the country.
"This disease can not be trivialised, the types of patients we're seeing being admitted now are quite different to those in the first wave.
"Talking to our senior respiratory physicians, we're seeing 30 and 40-year-olds being admitted with serious illness requiring oxygen and a lot of them needing intensive care therapy."
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A woman in her eighties has died after the car she was travelling in hit a tree in Guisborough.
It happened on Wednesday at 16:40 at the junction of The Avenue and Stokesley Road, when the car, a Peugeot 307 which was being driven by a man in his eighties, left the road.
They were both taken to James Cook University Hospital with multiple injuries, but the woman later died.
Officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit are appealing for anyone who may have seen what happened to contact them.
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Video content
The car, which was being driven across counties by a man from Middlesbrough, was found stuck in a ford in North Yorkshire.
BBC launches temporary output in Sunderland
The BBC is launching new temporary output in Sunderland to help people during lockdown.
BBC Radio Sunderland will start on Monday providing more localised news and information for people in the city, and is due to broadcast until March.
It will be live on DAB radio and online, weekdays from 06:00 to 14:00
Chris Burns, head of BBC Local Radio, said: "We are here for people right across England in these extraordinary times and are determined to help communities stay informed, connected and safe during this most challenging period."
She said listeners will "get a better sense of what is happening in their area and will feel more in touch with their community even as they stay at home".
BBC Radio Sunderland will provide news and sport coverage, reflect life in the city and celebrate good news happening in communities.
Gilly Hope (pictured left) will present the breakfast show from 06:00 to 10:00 followed by Tamsin Robson (pictured right) from 10:00 to 14:00
Gilly joined the BBC in 2004 and is a well-known voice to BBC Radio Newcastle listeners and viewers of regional TV.
She said: "I can’t wait to present the breakfast show on BBC Radio Sunderland, waking up people across my home city and finding the stories that matter to us on Wearside."
Tamsin joined BBC Radio Newcastle in January last year and presents the station’s Upload show.
She said: "To present mid-mornings is a dream come true and I can't wait to share inspirational stories of the local community and lots of laughter with you."
BBC Radio Sunderland will be available from Monday online at bbc.co.uk/radiosunderland or via DAB digital radio.
To get in touch with the BBC Radio Sunderland team you can email radiosunderland@bbc.co.uk
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The Middlesbrough FC Foundation is to receive a £100,000 grant to fund food supplies for those most affected by Covid-19 in the area.
It is part of the Barclays’ Community Aid Package, which supports charities around the world which are helping people affected by the pandemic.
It comes after mother who posted a photo on social media of a food parcel she received told of the "sense of sadness" she felt.
The MFC Foundation ensures that the funds are also to be used for sustainable food options in Tees Valley.
Foundation head Helena Bowman says it is a "significant investment" and will help them scale up their work in the community.
Barclays partners in the UK include groups who are meeting the immediate needs of low-income families, those facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people, NHS staff and key workers.
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