Further 78 coronavirus deaths at hospitals across Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire

The deaths announced on Thursday mean a total 6,088 patients have now died in the region's hospitals after contracting the virus.

A further 1,085 patients have died in the region's care homes since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile the UK-wide death toll increased by 1,239 to 103,126.

Fifteen new deaths were confirmed at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total remains 567.

A further 14 deaths were announced at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the death toll now stands at 897.

Eleven deaths were recorded at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross Hospital, where the death toll is now 648.

Ten deaths were confirmed at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, where there have been 564 deaths since the pandemic began.

Six deaths were announced at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the main hospitals in Stoke and Stafford, where there has now been 1,170 deaths.

And 22 deaths were recorded at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where the overall death toll increased to 2,103.

Elsewhere, three deaths were announced at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.