Further 18 Covid hospital patients die in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire

The deaths announced on Sunday mean a total of 4,497 have now died in the region's hospitals after contracting the virus.

A total of 875 people have also died in care homes across the region since the pandemic began.

Figures announced by NHS England on Sunday showed a further 231 people have died in hospitals across England, bringing the total to 48,542. The figures included 46 new deaths in the Midlands region.

Meanwhile the UK-wide death toll increased by 316 to 70,752 on Sunday.

Across the region

Twelve 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 857.

A further four deaths were confirmed at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where 654 coronavirus patients have now died.

One death was recorded at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, where the total stands at 436.

And one death was announced at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, where the total stands at 416.

No new deaths were recorded at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust on Sunday, where the total remains 440; or at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, where the toll stands at 1,579.

A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 231 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 48,542.

"Patients were aged between 30 and 103 years old. All except five – aged 36 to 85 years old – had known underlying health conditions.

"Date of death ranges from December 9 to December 26 with the majority being on or after December 24.

"Their families have been informed."