Coronavirus: 13 more deaths in Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham

A further 13 coronavirus patients have died in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.

The figures announced today take the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the region's hospitals to 1,969.

A further 204 people have died in hospitals in England, bringing the total to 21,384.

Across the UK a total of 28,734 people have now been confirmed to have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 288 from yesterday.

The cumulative number of hospital deaths across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire by date of death as of May 4. Data: NHS England. Figures likely to increase as further deaths announced.

Number of hospital coronavirus deaths in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire by date of death as of May 4. Data: NHS England. Figures likely to be increased as further deaths announced.

Among the deaths announced in hospitals on Monday were five at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, taking the total to 226.

Five more deaths were confirmed at the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust, which runs Stafford's County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital, bringing the total to 207.

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At the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell and City hospitals, a further three deaths were announced – bringing the total to 303.

No new deaths were announced at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust where 170 people have died, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust where 243 people have died or at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust where 778 people have died.

And two new deaths were announced in Worcestershire, where the total deaths at the county's hospital has risen to 232.

The cumulative number of coronavirus deaths at hospital trusts across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire by date of death as of May 4. Data: NHS England. Figures likely to increase as further deaths announced.

A spokesman from NHS England said: "A further 204 people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 21,384.

"Patients were aged between 26 and 101 years old. Of those, three of the 204 patients – aged between 41 and 58 years old – had no known underlying health condition.

"Their families have been informed.

Some deaths are not included in the statistics for several days due to testing or family members being informed. Sunday's figures included patients who died between March 29 and May 3.

The news comes as Downing Street has announced London’s NHS Nightingale hospital is to stop admitting new patients following limited demand for its services.

Soldiers and private contractors help to convert the ExCel centre, London into a temporary NHS Nightingale hospital (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that there were no new coronavirus admissions expected at the hospital in east London’s ExCel centre in the coming days.

Although it will not accept new patients, the temporary hospital will remain on “standby” should it need to resume operations in the future.

Meanwhile, a £14 million fund to help zoos and aquariums look after their animals in the face of pandemic closures has been announced by the Government.

Zoos and aquariums have lost visitor income having been forced to shut due in the lockdown, but still face the costs of looking after the animals in their care.

The Government said the funding would help zoos cover costs relating to keeping the animals and ensuring welfare standards are upheld – helping pay for things such as feed, heating and security.

The Environment Department (Defra) also said it would continue to work with some of the largest zoos to discuss additional concerns about funding in the longer term.

In other news, a new survey suggests the behaviour of road users has deteriorated since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

An AA poll of more than 19,700 drivers indicated that a quarter (25 per cent) feel car drivers and cyclists are behaving worse than before the outbreak.

This is compared with 21 per cent who think cars are being driven better, and 10 per cent who believe cycling has improved.

And lastly, Asda has offered priority delivery slots to thousands of care homes for the next six months and donated 250,000 face masks to protect workers and residents, the supermarket said.

Bosses said 3,500 care homes across the country will be able to book the slots.

It follows similar moves by other supermarkets to offer deliveries to those finding it hardest to get to stores during the coronavirus lockdown.