No new coronavirus deaths in region as UK death toll rises by 36

No new coronavirus deaths were confirmed in the Black Country, Birmingham or Staffordshire today.

The cumulative number of coronavirus deaths by Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire NHS trusts by date of death as of June 14. Data: NHS England. Figures likely to increase as further deaths announced

The UK-wide death toll increased by 36 to 41,698 today, with the number of deaths in English hospitals rising by 27 to 27,954.

Of the 27 newly-announced deaths, five were in the Midlands but none were in the Black Country, Birmingham or Staffordshire where two deaths were confirmed yesterday.

So far 569 people have died in the region's care homes but data for care home deaths is only available between April 10 and June 5. The first hospital deaths in the region were in Dudley and Wolverhampton on March 8.

The daily number of coronavirus deaths in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire hospitals by date of death as of June 14. Data: NHS England. Figures likely to increase as further deaths announced

Of the 2,457 Covid-19 patients confirmed to have died in hospitals in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire since the pandemic began, 939 (38 per cent) have died in the care of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.

The trust is the region's largest and has had 324 more coronavirus patients die in its care than any other hospital trust in the UK. It runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals and treats people from across the Midlands.

Meanwhile 369 patients have died at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, and 323 have died at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford.

The cumulative number of coronavirus deaths in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire hospitals by date of death as of June 14. Data: NHS England. Figures likely to increase as further deaths announced

So far 282 patients have died at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, 257 have died at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, and 218 have died at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust which runs Walsall Manor.

Over in Worcestershire 294 patients have died in hospital and 164 have died in care homes.

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Meanwhile Boris Johnson has said the falling numbers of coronavirus cases has given the Government “more margin for manoeuvre” in easing the two-metre social-distancing rule.

The Prime Minister, who has ordered a “comprehensive” review of the regulation in England, said “probably” fewer than one in 1,000 people now had the virus, meaning the chances of coming in contact with someone who was infected were increasingly remote.