Two more coronavirus deaths in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire hospitals
A further two coronavirus patients have been confirmed to have died in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
Today's announcement takes the Covid-19 death toll in the region's hospitals to 2,457.
Meanwhile the number of Covid-19 deaths in the region's care homes increased by 17 to 569 in the weekly figures released by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday, meaning the region's full confirmed death toll is now 3,026.
The UK-wide death toll released by the Government, which includes deaths in and out of hospital, will be announced later today.
The number of deaths in hospitals in England went up by 67 to 27,927, in figures announced on Saturday.
Of the new deaths in hospitals confirmed on Saturday, one death was confirmed at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs Stafford's County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital, where the total is now 323.
The other death was confirmed at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, taking the total to 939. The trust runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals.
No new deaths were recorded at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total is 257, nor at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, in charge of the Manor Hospital, where the total remains 218, nor at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, where the total is 282, nor at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the total is 369.
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No new deaths were reported in Worcestershire, where the total death toll in the county's hospitals stays at 294.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 67 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 27,927.
"Patients were aged between 37 and 102 years old. Three patients (aged between 59 and 94) had no known underlying health conditions.
"Their families have been informed."
The daily hospital figures include Covid-19 patients whose deaths were confirmed in the previous 24 hours, not who died in that period.
Dr Lisa McNally said that despite a dramatic fall in cases since April, the disease appeared to be fighting back.
Traders have issued a rallying call urging people to 'shop local' as they prepare to reopen their doors for the first time in weeks.
Business bosses across the region said it is now more vital to the future of the high street than ever before that people use their local shops.
From today people living alone in England can from Saturday form “support bubbles” with other households, ending weeks of isolation under lockdown.
The latest easing of the social-distancing rules has been keenly anticipated, potentially opening the way for some grandparents to visit and hug their grandchildren again.
The Queen’s official birthday has been marked with a brief but poignant ceremonial tribute from the military – executed with precision despite social distancing.
Soldiers from the Welsh Guards, who a few weeks ago were manning Covid-19 test centres, staged the unique event in the grounds of Windsor Castle, as the head of state made her first official public appearance since the lockdown was imposed.
