43 further Covid deaths at region's hospitals

It means the total number of Covid-19 patients who have died in the region's hospitals now stands at 6,546.

Five deaths were reported at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the death toll now stands at 971.

Ten deaths were announced at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, taking the toll at Walsall Manor hospital to 615.

At Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs News Cross Hospital, seven deaths were confirmed taking the total to 702.

Fourteen deaths were reported at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in the city including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where the toll now stands at 2,261.

At the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the main hospitals in Stafford and Stoke, eight deaths were announced, taking the toll to 1,235.

No data was available for the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the death toll there remains at 611.

A further 571 people, who tested positive for Covid-19, died in England's hospitals.

It means the total number of patients who have died in the country's hospitals from coronavirus now stands at 75,357.

A spokesman for the NHS said: "Patients were aged between 17 and 100 years old. All except 29 - aged 36 to 98-years-old - had known underlying health conditions.

"Date of death ranges from December 5, 2020, to February 5, 2021.

"Their families have been informed."