Care home coronavirus deaths rise in region
The number of coronavirus deaths in care homes in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham rose during the first week of May, latest figures show.
A total of 157 Covid-19 patients died in care homes across the region May 2 and May 8, which is 46 more than the current figures suggest died in hospital.
The latest NHS England figures show 111 people died with the virus in the region's hospital in the week to May 8, although these figures could increase as further deaths are announced.
The number of care home deaths was up by 28 from 129 the previous week.
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Ministers have said the number of deaths in care homes is starting to fall but the figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed the crisis was still growing in the region last week.
In the Black Country, 65 people died in care homes in the week to May 8. There were 52 deaths in Staffordshire - 17 more than died in the county's hospitals that week - and 40 in Birmingham. There were a further 27 in Shropshire.
Of the Black Country deaths, 24 were in Walsall, 18 in Sandwell, 13 in Wolverhampton and 10 in Dudley.
The latest statistics follow criticism of Black Country councils over a lack of emergency funding filtering through to crisis-hit care homes.
Staffordshire County Council said it has pumped £13m of emergency funding into its care homes to try and protect residents and staff.
The number of care home coronavirus deaths have begun to catch those in hospitals, where totals have been steadily falling since mid-April.
