Eight new coronavirus deaths confirmed at region's hospitals
Eight coronavirus deaths have been confirmed at hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
The deaths announced on Thursday mean 7,529 patients have now died with Covid-19 in the region's hospitals.
On top of this, a total of 1,387 people have died in the region's care homes after contracting coronavirus.
NHS England confirmed a further 43 deaths on Thursday, meaning 86,308 have now died in the country's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus.
Three deaths were announced at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital, where the total increased to 1,373.
One death was confirmed at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs City and Sandwell General hospitals, where the total now stands at 1,161.
And four deaths were recorded at the University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, taking the total number of deaths to 2,589.
No new deaths were recorded at either the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, or the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trusts, where the totals remain at 796 and 730 respectively.
There were also no new deaths announced at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, where the total remains 719.
Elsewhere, one death was confirmed at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 43 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 86,308.
"Patients were aged between 30 and 96 years old. All except one – aged 79 years old – had known underlying health conditions.
"Date of death ranges from January 22 to March 31, with the majority being on or after March 29.
"Their families have been informed."
Meanwhile, 29,973,324 vaccinations have been carried out across England to date – including first and second doses.
In the Midlands, 5,137,442 first doses of the coronavirus vaccine has been administered, while 601,658 second doses have been carried out.
The data includes vaccinations carried out between December 8 and March 31.
