The Midlands has become the UK's new coronavirus hotspot after deaths there surpassed London. Figures released today showed that 92 patients died in hospitals in the Midlands region in the past 24 hours, 10 higher than the death toll reported for the capital.
The deaths may have happened over the previous two weeks and only recently been added to the total. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has said that over 500 patients had died at its hospitals since the start of the outbreak - the highest number for any trust in England.
As of 5pm on April 18, the trust had announced 589 deaths, according to figures from NHS England. Two other trusts have announced between 300 and 400 deaths.