Coronavirus: Latest updates as West Midlands faces 'significant shortfalls' in PPE supply
See all the coronavirus updates from across the Black Country, Birmingham, Staffordshire and beyond from April 17.
A further 69 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 were confirmed to have died at hospitals in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham taking the region's death toll to 1,362.
Meanwhile Mayor Andy Street told a West Midlands Combined Authority briefing that there had been "significant shortfalls" in the supply of protective equipment across the region.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma then acknowledged the supply issues when pressed by the Express & Star at the Government's daily press conference.
Meanwhile the UK death toll reached 14,576 and the Government announced it is setting up a coronavirus vaccine taskforce.
We'll be back bringing you the latest on Saturday.
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