A TOTAL of 80 patients being treated for coronavirus at Russells Hall Hospital have now died.

Hospital chiefs at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust confirmed on Sunday (April 5) that a further 16 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have passed away.

The patients were aged between 67 and 100-years-old and all had underlying health conditions.

Diane Wake, chief executive of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement: "The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust is currently treating patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).

"Sadly, we can confirm that 80 patients being cared for at our hospital, and had tested positive for COVID-19, have died. Sixteen of those have been announced today.

"The patients were aged between 67 and 100 years old and all patients had underlying health conditions.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and friends of those patients at this very difficult and distressing time."

As of Sunday, there were 47,806 confirmed cases of the virus across the UK. Of these, 4,934 people have died, according to figures released by Public Health England.