Eight more coronavirus hospital deaths in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham
A further eight coronavirus patients have died in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
The NHS figures announced on Friday mean the Covid-19 death toll in the region's hospitals is now at 2,249.
At least 487 people have also died with the virus in care homes across the Black Country, Birmngham and Staffordshire but care home figures are only available for April 10 to May 15.
The UK-wide death toll released by Government, which includes deaths in and out of hospitals, increased by 351 to 36,393 today but the true figure is thought to be far higher.
The number of deaths in hospitals in England increased by 121 to 25,387.
Among the new hospital deaths announced on Friday were two at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, taking the death toll to 334.
One death was announced at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, taking the total to 244.
No new deaths were announced at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, where the total remains 260, or at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, in charge of the Manor Hospital, where the total is 192.
There were also no new deaths reported at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs Stafford's County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital, where the total remains 282.
Four people have died at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, taking the total to 879. The trust runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals.
A further death was confirmed at the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, where the total is 34.
One new death was reported in Worcestershire on Friday, where the total death toll in the county's hospital is now 270.
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As well as including patients who tested positive for the disease, the hospital statistics now also include patients who died in hospital and had not tested positive but for whom Covid-19 is documented as a direct or underlying cause of death on their death certificate.
This included seven deaths in the Midlands – but it is not known where in the Midlands the deaths took place.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 121 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 25,387.
"Patients were aged between 41 and 98 years old. Three of the 121 patients – aged between 50 and 91 years old – had no known underlying health condition.
"Their families have been informed."
