SEVENTY people have now died of coronavirus in care homes in Dudley and Sandwell.
New figures published by the Office of National Statistics show there have been 42 deaths linked to COVID-19 in care homes in the Dudley borough and 28 deaths linked to the deadly virus in the Sandwell area.
The figures take into account all deaths that occurred up until May 1 and that were registered up until May 9.
Eighteen people have also died from the virus in their own homes in Dudley and Sandwell - nine in Dudley and nine in Sandwell.
The ONS figures also include hospital deaths linked to COVID-19 - although they are not as up to date as the daily figures published by NHS England as they only list deaths that have been officially registered.
The ONS stats say 180 people have died in hospital in Dudley, while 225 deaths linked to COVID-19 occurred at Sandwell Hospital - up until May 1 - a total of 405.
According to latest hospital death figures from NHS England, published today (Tuesday May 12), 233 have died with coronavirus at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, while 316 have died with COVID-19 in hospitals run by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust - a total of 549 in Dudley and Sandwell.
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