Coronavirus: Patient in 70s dies in Wolverhampton

The patient was being treated at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton

A patient in Wolverhampton has died after testing positive for coronavirus.

England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the latest patient with Covid-19 to die was in their 70s with underlying health conditions and was being treated at New Cross Hospital.

"It appears the virus was acquired in the UK and full contact tracing has begun," Prof Whitty said.

It comes as the number of cases in the UK rose to more than 300.

The Wolverhampton case was the fourth UK fatality.

A fifth was reported on Monday at St Helier Hospital, in Surrey, of a person in their 70s who was unwell with a number of significant and long-term health conditions.

There were 319 confirmed cases in the UK as of 09:00 GMT on Monday, a rise of 46 since the same time on Sunday. Thirty one of those are in the West Midlands region.

Extra measures to delay the virus's spread with "social distancing" will not be introduced yet, ministers said.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock said any further measures that could be introduced to tackle the spread of Covid-19 would be guided by scientific advice.

A Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust spokesperson said: "The trust can confirm that a patient in their 70s being treated for underlying health conditions has died.

"The patient had tested positive for Covid-19.

"The family has been informed and our condolences and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

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