This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/west-midlands-emerges-as-a-hotspot-for-coronavirus-deaths

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
West Midlands emerges as a hotspot for coronavirus deaths West Midlands emerges as a hotspot for coronavirus deaths
(32 minutes later)
Latest daily figures show region reported more than a third of UK’s fatal infectionsLatest daily figures show region reported more than a third of UK’s fatal infections
The West Midlands has seen another sharp rise in the number of coronavirus-related deaths after emerging as a hotspot for transmissions of the virus earlier this week.The West Midlands has seen another sharp rise in the number of coronavirus-related deaths after emerging as a hotspot for transmissions of the virus earlier this week.
Of the 115 new deaths reported across the UK in the latest update, 40 were recorded in the West Midlands. That took the total number of deaths across the Midlands so far to 112. Of the 115 new deaths reported across the UK in the latest update, 40 were recorded in the West Midlands. That took the total number of deaths across the Midlands to 112.
Eighteen people who died were being treated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS trust, which has recorded the highest death toll from the virus for any trust in the UK for the second time.Eighteen people who died were being treated by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS trust, which has recorded the highest death toll from the virus for any trust in the UK for the second time.
There have been 17 deaths in Sandwell and West Birmingham hospitals NHS trust, 16 in University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust and 11 in the Dudley Group NHS foundation trust so far.There have been 17 deaths in Sandwell and West Birmingham hospitals NHS trust, 16 in University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust and 11 in the Dudley Group NHS foundation trust so far.
Earlier this week the government said it was investigating the reasons behind a hotspot emerging in the region. Anecdotal evidence suggested people’s religious convictions and fears of social isolation could be leading to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus transmissions in the area.Earlier this week the government said it was investigating the reasons behind a hotspot emerging in the region. Anecdotal evidence suggested people’s religious convictions and fears of social isolation could be leading to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus transmissions in the area.
In an interview with the Guardian Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood said elderly Muslim and Sikh people in the area were struggling to adhere to government guidelines surrounding social distancing because of their religious convictions. In an interview with the Guardian, the Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood said older Muslim and Sikh people in the area were struggling to adhere to government guidelines about physical distancing because of their religious convictions.
Despite most religious services being cancelled, some older people were allegedly continuing to attend mosques and gurdwaras to pray, said Mahmood. Another theory suggested panic buying in supermarkets, with people queueing next to each other for hours to pay for their goods, could also be contributing to the large cluster. Despite most religious services being cancelled, some older people were allegedly continuing to attend mosques and gurdwaras to pray, Mahmood said. Another theory suggested panic buying in supermarkets, with people queueing next to each other for hours to pay for their goods, could be contributing to the large cluster.
While NHS England reported 107 new deaths across 30 trusts yesterday, some deaths reportedly occurred as early as 16 March. The youngest of the new patients was 32 years old and had an underlying health condition. While NHS England reported 107 new deaths across 30 trusts on Thursday, some of those deaths had reportedly occurred as early as 16 March. The youngest of the new patients was 32 and had an underlying health condition.
The figures emerged amid continuing confusion over the number of virus-related deaths as NHS England changed how the data is reported and it emerged that people dying at home of suspected cases are not included. The figures emerged amid continuing confusion over the number of virus-related deaths after NHS England changed how the data was reported and it emerged that people dying at home of suspected cases were not included.
NHS England said it was shifting the time period for the daily reporting of deaths, as hospitals under pressure were struggling to gather the data in time. NHS England said it was shifting the time period for the daily reporting of deaths because hospitals under pressure were struggling to gather the data in time.
It revealed that 107 people died from coronavirus in England, taking the UK-wide figure to 115 over a 24-hour period – the highest over one day so far. It revealed that 107 people died from coronavirus in England, taking the UK-wide figure to 115 over a 24-hour period – the highest daily toll so far.
NHS England also belatedly revealed that the unexpectedly low figure of just 28 deaths on Tuesday covered only a short period from 9am to 5pm that day, dashing hopes that the UK’s curve was flattening. NHS England also belatedly revealed that the unexpectedly low figure of 28 deaths on Tuesday covered only a short period, from 9am to 5pm, dashing hopes that the UK’s curve was flattening.
In future, there will be a time lag of almost a day in reporting deaths, which will be published at 2pm and reflect mortality figures for the 24-hour period before 5pm the previous day.In future, there will be a time lag of almost a day in reporting deaths, which will be published at 2pm and reflect mortality figures for the 24-hour period before 5pm the previous day.
The figures, published on a daily basis, include age brackets showing the range of people who have died. The figures include age brackets showing the range of people who have died.
However, some prominent cases do not appear to be reflected in the figures, such as that of Kayla Williams, a 36-year-old mother from Peckham, who died just before paramedics arrived and was recorded by them as a possible Covid-19 case.However, some prominent cases do not appear to be reflected in the figures, such as that of Kayla Williams, a 36-year-old mother from Peckham, who died just before paramedics arrived and was recorded by them as a possible Covid-19 case.
Chloe Middleton, the 21-year-old from Buckinghamshire whose family said on Wednesday she died after contracting coronavirus, also does not appear to be recorded in the figures.Chloe Middleton, the 21-year-old from Buckinghamshire whose family said on Wednesday she died after contracting coronavirus, also does not appear to be recorded in the figures.
An NHS England source said the likely cause of people missing from the statistics is that the daily figures only include those who tested positive in hospital.An NHS England source said the likely cause of people missing from the statistics is that the daily figures only include those who tested positive in hospital.
The UK is only testing people for coronavirus in hospital, so people dying at home or in care homes with symptoms of the disease will be missing from the overall figures.The UK is only testing people for coronavirus in hospital, so people dying at home or in care homes with symptoms of the disease will be missing from the overall figures.
The number of omissions are likely to be low at the moment but could increase as the pandemic worsens in the coming weeks.The number of omissions are likely to be low at the moment but could increase as the pandemic worsens in the coming weeks.
A Public Health England spokesman said the overall figures published daily represented all those who had tested positive for coronavirus, and there was no systemic testing of those who had died with symptoms but no confirmed diagnosis.A Public Health England spokesman said the overall figures published daily represented all those who had tested positive for coronavirus, and there was no systemic testing of those who had died with symptoms but no confirmed diagnosis.
Additional reporting by Pamela Duncan and Niamh McIntyre