Further 18 coronavirus deaths confirmed in hospitals in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire

The deaths announced on Thursday mean 7,332 people have now died with the virus in the region's hospitals.

On top of this, a further 1,356 have died in the region's care homes after contracting coronavirus.

NHS England confirmed a further 184 deaths on Thursday, meaning 83,917 people have now died in the country's hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19.

Three deaths were announced at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs City and Sandwell General hospitals, where 1,128 people have now died with Covid.

Three deaths were recorded at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, where the death toll increased to 703.

Two deaths were announced at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the main hospitals in Stafford and Stoke, taking the trust's death toll to 1,341.

One death was reported at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, meaning the death toll at New Cross Hospital increased to 777.

Birmingham

And nine deaths were announced at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth Hospital as well as Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, taking the death toll there to 2,522.

No new deaths were recorded at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total remained at 703.

One death was reported at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 184 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 83,917.

"Patients were aged between 19 and 98 years old. All except six – aged 47 to 85 years old – had known underlying health conditions.

"Date of death ranges from November 19 to March 3, with the majority being on or after February 28.

"Their families have been informed."