Further nine coronavirus deaths confirmed at region's hospitals
A further nine coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
The deaths announced on Friday mean 7,469 patients have died with the virus in the region's hospitals.
On top of this, a further 1,383 have died in the region's care homes after contracting coronavirus.
NHS England confirmed a further 74 hospital deaths on Thursday, meaning 85,659 have now died in the country's hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19.
Two deaths were announced at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford, where total increased to 1,364.
Two further deaths were confirmed at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the total now stands at 1,152.
And five deaths were reported 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 2,573.
No new deaths were reported at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust where the total remains 720, or at the Dudley Group NHS Trust where the death toll now stands at 718
There were also no new deaths recorded at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, where the total stands at 712.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 74 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 85,659.
"Patients were aged between 39 and 96 years old. All except one – aged 78 years – had known underlying health conditions.
"Date of death ranges from January 5 to March 18.
"Their families have been informed."
Meanwhile, 23,757,540 coronavirus vaccinations have been carried out across England to date – including first and second doses.
In the Midlands, 4,363,299 first doses of the coronavirus vaccine has been administered, while 235,249 second doses have been carried out.
The data includes vaccinations carried out between December 8 and March 18.
