THIRTY residents have died of coronavirus in care homes in Dudley and Sandwell, according to latest figures.

Data published by the ONS reveals there have been 20 deaths linked to COVID-19 in care homes in the Dudley area and 10 in care homes in Sandwell since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.

The figures, for the week ending April 17, include deaths registered up until April 25 and in addition to deaths in care homes - the data includes numbers of COVID-19 related hospital deaths.

In Dudley 135 people have died of coronavirus in hospital; and in Sandwell 176 people with the virus have died in hospital.

Meanwhile - seven people with COVID-19 have died at home in the Dudley borough, while five people with coronavirus have died at home in Sandwell.

Figures for Dudley also include one coronavirus related death in hospice care.

The data published by the ONS every Tuesday, differs from the daily hospital death figures published by Public Health England as the ONS statistics are based on deaths that have been officially registered in each local authority area.

Just yesterday - the News reported how 13 care homes in the Dudley borough have been fighting coronavirus outbreaks.

Councillor Nic Barlow, the council's cabinet member for adult social care, said the council was working with Public Health England and CCG partners and had established a screening team to identify suspected outbreaks as quickly as possible.

He said Dudley CCG has coordinated the supply of additional equipment such as thermometers, blood pressure machines and oxygen monitors to help homes and GPs have been providing remote video consultations; the council's health protection team has also been advising homes on infection control precautions to help reduce the risk of the virus spreading to other residents.

A total of 4,390 care home residents across England and Wales have died of coronavirus since the outbreak hit the UK, with more than half of those deaths (2,248) registered within the last week, according to the ONS figures.