West Midlands mayor announces mum's Covid death

The West Midlands mayor - a former managing director of John Lewis - has thanked hospital staff who cared for his mother

The mayor of the West Midlands says his mother has died after contracting Covid-19.

Andy Street made the announcement in a tweet that thanked staff at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital.

He wrote: "Painfully, yesterday, I joined so many others in our region who have lost a loved one to Covid - my Mum."

He offered his respect to medical teams "for all they did for her, and for everything they do day in and day out".

Mr Street, Conservative, who was the managing director of John Lewis before turning to politics, has been West Midlands mayor since 2017.

He gives weekly briefings on the efforts made by the West Midlands Combined Authority to combat the coronavirus in the region.

Heartlands Hospital is part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust. A report this week detailed the pressure it was under because of the pandemic.

On Wednesday it emerged two cases of the South Africa variant of the virus had been detected in Birmingham, with one reported in neighbouring Walsall earlier in the week.

Other politicians have been tweeting messages of sympathy to Mr Street, including the minister in charge of the vaccine roll-out, Nadhim Zahawi MP, who wrote: "I am so sorry Andy. My condolences to you and your family. May she rest in peace."

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson tweeted: "Very sorry to hear this Andy. My thoughts are with you and your family at this incredibly difficult time."

• LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area?

• SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them?

• VACCINE: When will I get the jab?

• FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one?

• THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters