First coronavirus death in five weeks confirmed in Wolverhampton
The first coronavirus death for more than five weeks has been confirmed at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
The death announced on Friday takes the number of Covid-19 patients to have died at the trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, to 286.
The patient died on August 5 and was the first person to die at the trust since June 30.
No other new deaths were announced in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire on Friday.
Latest rates of infection in the region:
Average number of new cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to August 4.
Figures show rate for seven days to August 4 with the number of new cases in brackets, followed by the equivalent figure for the previous seven days to July 28.
Data for the most recent three days (August 5-7) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.
Sandwell 18.0 (59), 26.8 (88)
Birmingham 13.1 (150), 13.6 (155)
Wolverhampton 12.2 (32), 13.3 (35)
Walsall 8.4 (24), 7.0 (20)
Stafford 5.8 (8), 6.6 (9)
South Staffordshire 5.3 (6), 5.3 (6)
Cannock Chase 4.0 (4), 7.9 (8)
Dudley 2.2 (7), 5.6 (18)
It means the coronavirus death toll in the region's hospitals now stands at 2,553. An additional 695 people have died with the disease in the region's care homes.
Meanwhile the number of deaths in hospitals in England rose by 10 to 29,386 and the overall UK death toll, including deaths in and out of hospitals, increased by 98 to 46,511.
And in Sandwell, where the rate of infection had risen to one of the highest in the country, council bosses have relaxed their advice after the number of new cases fell this week.
The death toll at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, remains at 264; while the toll at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, is at 230.
A total of 380 people have died at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospital; while 355 people have died at the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital.
More Covid-19 coverage:
At the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, the death toll remains at 967.
In Worcestershire, a total of 306 people have died in hospital after contracting Covid-19.
A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further ten people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,386.
"Patients were aged between 54 and 94 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.
"Their families have been informed."
An earlier version of this article said the latest death at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust happened on July 5 when it should have said August 5. This has now been corrected.
