MORE than a third of care homes in Bromsgrove have been hit by coronavirus, new figures show - as the district's death toll from the killer disease was confirmed to have passed 100.

Public Health England data reveals that of the 42 care homes in Bromsgrove, 15 had reported a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19 up to May 3.

The rate in Bromsgrove (36%) is higher than across the rest of the West Midlands, where 33% of care homes have been affected so far.

Figures also show that coronavirus-related deaths in care homes in Bromsgrove are continuing to rise above those in hospitals.

The latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics on Tuesday show that there were nine Bromsgrove deaths with coronavirus in care homes and only three in hospitals in the week ending May 8.

Over a three-week period from April 18 to May 8, there were 21 such deaths in Bromsgrove care homes, compared to 17 in hospitals.

Separate figures from the ONS reveal more than a fifth of coronavirus-related deaths in England and Wales up to April 24 had occurred in care homes.

A DHSC spokesman said the Government is working "around the clock" to ensure the sector in England is getting the support it needs to tackle the pandemic.

"We have launched a comprehensive action plan and provided £3.2 billion to local authorities to help them deal with the impacts of the pandemic on public services, including adult social care," they said.

The latest ONS figures released on Tuesday (May 19) showed that the Covid-19 death toll in Bromsgrove is now 105.

The death rate, however, is continuing to drop week by week - the total of 12 deaths for the week ending May 8 was the lowest in the district for six weeks.

Bromsgrove, though, remains the worst-hit area of Worcestershire by the disease, suffering more than twice as many deaths as Worcester (51), Malvern and Redditch (42 each).