Two more coronavirus deaths announced in Birmingham and Staffordshire
Two more coronavirus deaths have been confirmed at hospital trusts in Birmingham and Staffordshire.
However no new deaths were announced across the Black Country on Saturday, according to the latest NHS figures.
It means the death toll in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire now stands at 2,545. A further 687 people have died with coronavirus in the region's care homes.
Meanwhile the hospital death toll across England increased by another 25 – rising to 29,272. The UK total rose by 61 to 45,738.
One death was confirmed at the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital, bringing the total of deaths to 354.
And the other death was confirmed at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals. It means the death toll stands at 963.
No other deaths were confirmed at trusts across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
The death toll at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, remains at 285; while a total of 264 patients have died at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital.
The toll at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, is at 229; while a total of 379 patients have died at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals.
Over in Worcestershire, a total of 305 people have died in hospital after contracting Covid-19.
The daily hospital figures include Covid-19 patients whose deaths were confirmed in the previous 24 hours, not who died in that period.
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The news comes as people in Wolverhampton are being asked to remain vigilant after a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the city over the last week.
There has been an average of 10.3 new cases per 100,000 residents in the seven days up to today, compared to 2.7 cases per 100,000 people in previous weeks.
The nation could be facing a collapse in its health and leisure infrastructure, the industry has warned, as pools and gyms were allowed to open their doors in the latest easing of lockdown measures.
Only around 20% of pools in England will be opening on Saturday, the head of the national governing body for swimming said, with thousands potentially shutting up shop unless the Government intervenes.
Meanwhile, theatres across the region are set to miss out on a £10 million pay day as pantomimes are cancelled, according to new figures.
One of the region’s biggest theatres, Wolverhampton’s Grand, has already called time on its festive shows.
And with the Government only allowing socially distanced performances, others are expected to follow – with Birmingham Hippodrome among those under threat.
