20 more coronavirus deaths in region's hospitals and 17 in care homes
A further 20 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire as well as 17 further deaths in care homes.
The deaths announced on Tuesday mean 7,300 people have now died with the virus in the region's hospitals.
On top of this, a further 1,356 have died in the region's care homes after contracting coronavirus, after 17 new deaths were announced on Tuesday. Six deaths were announced in Staffordshire, four in Sandwell, three in Dudley, two in Birmingham, one in Walsall and one in Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, NHS England confirmed a further 279 deaths on Tuesday, meaning 83,529 people have now died in the country's hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19.
Four deaths were confirmed at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total increased to 702.
Two deaths were announced at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs City and Sandwell General hospitals, where 1,121 people have now died with Covid.
Two deaths were reported at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the main hospitals in Stafford and Stoke, taking the trust's death toll to 1,337.
One death was recorded at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, meaning the death toll at New Cross Hospital increased to 774.
A further death was confirmed at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, where the death toll now stands at 700.
Ten deaths were announced at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth Hospital as well as Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, taking the death toll there to 2,508.
Three deaths were reported at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 279 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 83,529
"Patients were aged between 17 and 102 years old. All except 11 – aged 17 to 89 years old – had known underlying health conditions.
"Date of death ranges from December 3 to March 1 with the majority being on or after February 21.
"Their families have been informed."
Meanwhile, 17,985,951 coronavirus vaccinations have been carried out across England to date – including first and second doses.
In the Midlands, 3,390,097 first doses of the coronavirus vaccine has been administered, while 97,891 second doses have been carried out.
The data includes vaccinations carried out between December 8 and March 1.
