Coronavirus death toll rises by 21 across Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire
A further 21 people have died from coronavirus across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
In total 1,789 people have now died across the UK after testing positive for Covid-19, with a further 381 deaths confirmed on Tuesday.
The jump is by far the biggest day-on-day rise in the number of UK deaths since the outbreak began and means the total number of deaths is 27 per cent higher than the equivalent figure the day before.
One of the 367 English patients confirmed to have died in the latest figures was aged just 19 and had no underlying health conditions.
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In Wolverhampton a further four have died, bringing the total death toll in the city to 49, while eight more people have died in Birmingham.
The deaths were confirmed by University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, bringing the total deaths across Sandwell and Birmingham to 80.
Four more people have also died in Dudley, bringing the total there to 30, and five more have died in Staffordshire, bringing the county's total to 16.
It means 177 people have now died in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire after contracting coronavirus.
There were also six more deaths confirmed in Worcestershire, bringing the total there to 19,
The death figures released each day refer to the deaths of coronavirus patients confirmed in a 24-hour period, and includes patients who died several days ago but whose families had not been informed or who needed further testing.
Latest figures show that 1,651 people have died in England alone.
NHS England said in a statement: "A further 367 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 1,651.
"Patients were aged between 19 and 98 years old and all but 28 patients (aged between 19 and 91 years old) had underlying health conditions.
"Their families have been informed."
It comes as other figures revealed that the true death toll is higher than hospital statistics suggest.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales shows there were 24 per cent more deaths relating to Covid-19 up to and including March 20, compared to hospital-only data for the same period.
The ONS looked at all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned as a factor, including hospital deaths and those in the community and care homes.
A total of 210 deaths in England and Wales for the time period had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate, compared with 170 coronavirus-related deaths reported by NHS England and Public Health Wales.
Hospital figures are of people who have tested positive for Covid-19, whereas the ONS includes all deaths where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate, even if only suspected.
However, the ONS data does provide a much wider picture of what may be happening in the community.
It comes as Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of his Cabinet by videolink on Tuesday, as he continues to self-isolate in Downing Street after testing positive for coronavirus.
The Prime Minister has faced heavy criticism over shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline NHS staff as well as the slow rollout of testing.
All Cabinet ministers dialled into the meeting, with only civil service chief Sir Mark Sedwill and a small number of officials in the Cabinet room in Downing Street, following the rules and keeping two metres apart.
The Prime Minister told the meeting: “The rising death toll in recent days showed the vital importance of the public continuing to stick to the social distancing guidance which has been put in place by the Government, based on scientific and medical advice.”
He added: “The situation is going to get worse before it gets better – but it will get better.”
An earlier version of this story said 53 people had died at Wolverhampton and 181 had died across the region. After confirmation from the Royal Wolverhampton Health Trust these figures have now been updated to 49 and 177. The error was due to deaths we had already confirmed with the trust later being included in NHS England figures.
