Coronavirus: 20 more deaths confirmed in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire
A further 20 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire, bringing the region's total to 1,795.
Across the UK, the death toll increased by 360 to a total of 21,092. In England the figure increased by 329 to 18,749.
Four more deaths were reported at the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust, which runs Stafford's County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital, bringing the total to 179.
At the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, a further three deaths were confirmed – a rise to 208.
Two further deaths were confirmed at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell and City hospitals, bringing the total to 280.
At the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross Hospital, another two deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 229.
There were nine more deaths at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust taking the total to 731. The trust runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals.
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No new deaths were reported at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which manages the Manor Hospital, where the total is now 147.
Meanwhile one more death was confirmed in Worcestershire where 182 people have now died.
The daily announcements only include hospital deaths, meaning the full death toll is likely to be far higher, and refer to patients whose deaths were confirmed in the previous 24 hours – not who died in that period.
Some deaths are not included in the statistics for several days due to testing or family members being informed.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 329 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 18,749.
"Patients were aged between 29 and 100 years old. A total of 22 of the 329 patients – aged between 29 and 89 years old – had no known underlying health condition.
"Their families have been informed."
The latest figures were for deaths between March 17 and April 26.
The news comes as around 6,000 people who have recovered from Covid-19 have signed up to donate their blood plasma to see if it can help patients currently infected with the virus.
A call from the NHS for patients to come forward has led to around 6,000 registrants who tested positive for coronavirus, including more than 500 people who were admitted to hospital.
Some have now begun donating their blood plasma in a process known as plasmapheresis, which uses a machine similar to that used in regular blood platelet donation.
The plasma from former patients is rich in the antibodies that develop as somebody recovers from an illness.
In other news, the nation is expected to fall silent in tribute to key workers who have died in the coronavirus pandemic.
Boris Johnson, who battled the illness himself, including a spell in intensive care, will be among those observing the minute’s silence on Tuesday at 11am.
Government workers will be asked to take part and the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it is hoped others will participate “nationwide”.
The Unison union, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing launched a campaign last week for the nation to take a moment to honour frontline staff who have died during the Covid-19 crisis.
Between them, the organisations represent more than a million NHS and public service workers including porters, refuse collectors and care staff.
As the Prime Minister returned to take charge of the Government’s response to the coronavirus crisis following his recovery from Covid-19, he said there are signs that the UK is “passing through the peak” of the outbreak and “coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict”.
Comparing the disease to a mugger, he said: “This is the moment when we have begun, together, to wrestle it to the floor.”
But he said it is also the moment of maximum risk because of the danger that people would look at the “apparent success” and “go easy” on social distancing measures.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) said firms have voluntarily agreed to remove all their gaming product advertising for at least six weeks.
It comes a week after the Government wrote to gambling firms asking them to provide regular updates on how they are tackling problem gambling during the coronavirus lockdown.
The industry body said existing TV and radio advertising slots will be replaced by safer gambling messages, donated to charities or removed from broadcast where contracts allow.
