Covid-19: Further 49 deaths at hospitals in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire

A further 49 coronavirus patients have died at hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.

Lydia Newhall, a trainee biomedical scientist (BMS) in pathology, prepares Covid-19 tests for analysis in the laboratory at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 20, 2020. The team of scientists are working round the clock at the hospital to deliver hundreds of coronavirus testing results, some within 90 minutes. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus WhistonTests.Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

The deaths announced on Wednesday mean that 3,775 people have now died in the region's hospitals after contracting Covid-19.

A further 29 people have also died with coronavirus in care homes across the region in the last week: seven in Birmingham, two in Dudley, one in Sandwell, 12 in Staffordshire, three in Walsall and four in Wolverhampton.

At least 770 people have died in care homes with Covid since the pandemic began, although the true figure is likely to be higher as care home deaths have only been recorded since April 10.

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In England, the NHS recorded 372 new deaths in hospitals today, bringing the death toll to 41,310.

A further death was confirmed at the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation NHS Trust, taking the total to 23.

One more death was recorded at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the death toll reached 565.

The daily number of coronavirus deaths at hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire as of December 2. By date of death, not the date the death was announced. Data: NHS England.

A total of three more deaths were announced at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total increased to 372.

Five more deaths were confirmed at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, where the death toll now stands at 382.

A further 10 deaths were confirmed at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital, taking the coronavirus death toll there to 636.

The cumulative number of hospital coronavirus deaths, by NHS trust, in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire as of December 2. By date of death, not the date the death was announced. Data: NHS England.

No more deaths were announced at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, where 352 people have died.

And 29 deaths were announced at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, where the total stands at 1,376.

A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 372 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 41,310.

The cumulative number of coronavirus deaths at hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire as of December 2. By date of death, not the date the death was announced. Data: NHS England.

"Patients were aged between 19 and 103 years old. All except 17 (aged 19 to 93 years old) had known underlying health conditions.

"Date of death ranges from 7 April to 1 December 2020.

"Their families have been informed."