Coronavirus linked to more than a third of all West Midlands deaths
Coronavirus was linked to more than a third of deaths in the West Midlands in the week to April 10.
Some 37 per cent of deaths in the region involved Covid-19, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
There were a total of 2,182 deaths recorded that week, with 807 attributed to coronavirus.
More than half of deaths in London - 52 per cent - were linked to the virus and the West Midlands was the next worst hit. The ONS said the region "also had a high proportion of Covid-19 deaths".
It is further evidence that the region has been worst affected by the outbreak after London. More than 1,500 people have died after contracting Covid-19 in the Black Country and Birmingham.
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The figures showed deaths in England and Wales had nearly doubled to what would normally have been expected, reflecting the devastating impact of coronavirus.
Deaths in care homes rocketed to 1,043, from 243 the previous week.
There were 18,500 deaths in the week up to April 10 - about 8,000 more than is normal at this time of year, and the highest total for 20 years. More than 6,200 were linked to coronavirus, a sixth of which were outside of hospital.
Despite the sobering statistics, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street believes there is a chink of light at the end of the tunnel.
He said: "There is a little bit more hope for the Midlands. The number of people in hospital in the Midlands in beginning to come down, which is encouraging."
