13 more coronavirus deaths in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire
Thirteen more coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in hospitals and care homes across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
Four new Covid-19 deaths were announced in the region's hospitals today, taking the hospital only death toll to 2,490.
Meanwhile weekly figures released by the Office of National Statistics showed nine new coronavirus deaths in the region's care homes. It takes the total number of Covid deaths in care homes across the region to 591.
The UK-wide death toll released by the Government, which includes deaths in and out of hospitals, increased by 171 to 42,927 today although analysis of official figures puts the true figure at more than 54,000.
Across England, a further 46 deaths of patients with Covid-19 were announced in hospitals, bringing the total to 28,384.
Among the new deaths was one at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs City and Sandwell hospitals. The total number of deaths at the trust is now at 372.
One more person was also confirmed to have died at The University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust, which manages Stafford County and Royal Stoke University hospitals, where the death toll now stands at 336.
And two people were confirmed to have died at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The death toll at the trust, which runs four hospitals including Queen Elizabeth, is now at 950.
No further deaths were reported at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, where the total remains at 284; the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, where the toll stands at 261; or Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, where 220 people have died.
The ONS figures show that in the past week, up until June 19, nine more people were reported to have died in care homes after testing positive for Covid-19.
Four people died in care homes in Staffordshire, two in Wolverhampton, two in Dudley, and one in Birmingham.
There were no care home coronavirus deaths in Sandwell or Walsall.
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The latest figures show 60 people have died in care homes in Wolverhampton, 50 in Dudley, 79 in Walsall, 38 in Sandwell, 168 in Birmingham and 196 in Staffordshire.
Over in Worcestershire 172 people have died with the virus in care homes, with seven new deaths announced today, and 297 patients have died in hospital.
The true number of care home deaths across the region is thought to be far higher as data is only available from April 10.
The first hospital coronavirus deaths in the West Midlands happened in Wolverhampton and Dudley on March 8.
Meanwhile under changes from July 4, indoor gatherings involving two separate households will be permitted – including the possibility of visiting reopened pubs and restaurants – but social distancing will need to be maintained.
The two-metre rule will be eased, replaced with a “one-metre plus” measure, with the protection offered by the physical distance enhanced by other mitigation measures such as the use of face coverings, increased hygiene or layout changes in premises.
Boris Johnson said the “national hibernation” is beginning to end, and “life is returning to our streets”.
