Coronavirus death toll rises by 39 in region's hospitals
A further 39 patients have died with coronavirus in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
The deaths announced on Wednesday mean 4,009 people have now died in the region's hospitals after contracting Covid-1, while a total of 824 have now died with the virus in the region's care homes.
In England, the NHS on Wednesday recorded 344 new deaths in hospitals, bringing the death toll in the country's hospitals to 43,248. It included 83 in the Midlands region.
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Nine more deaths were confirmed at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the death toll increased to 397.
A further seven deaths were announced 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 695.
Three deaths were recorded at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, where the total number of deaths rose to 399.
Another two deaths were confirmed at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the death toll now stands at 595.
One death was announced at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, bringing the total there to 382.
And 17 deaths were recorded by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, where the total now stands at 1,441.
Elsewhere, 11 deaths were recorded at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, taking the total number of deaths there to 369.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 344 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 43,248.
"Patients were aged between 16 and 100 years old. All except 11 – aged 51 to 96 years old – had known underlying health conditions.
"Date of death ranges from October 18, to December 8, with the majority being on or after December 4.
"Their families have been informed."
