Summary

  • More than 11,000 virus deaths in care homes

  • Covid-19 nurse out of intensive care after 45 days

  • UK unemployment increases by 50,000

  • Huge rise in number of people claiming benefits

  • Government considers call for extra bank holiday

  • Cycling push post lockdown 'not possible'

  • Updates on Tuesday 19 May

  1. Ten deaths at nursing home in four weekspublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Michele Paduano
    Health correspondent, BBC Midlands Today

    Ten residents at a nursing home specialising in dementia care have died with coronavairus within four weeks.

    The first death at Limewood Nursing and Residential Home in Stafford was recorded on 24 April. In addition to the 10 deaths, a further nine residents have coronavirus.

    LimewoodImage source, Google

    It means about a third of Limewood's 59 residents have been affected.

    The home said it had been "a difficult few weeks".

  2. Sales expected when clothes stores reopen next monthpublished at 10:22 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Simon Read
    Business Reporter

    Clothes stores are ramping up plans to reopen - and big discounts could be on offer.

    Some non-essential retailers will be able to begin opening their doors again from next month.

    A shopper browsing through a rail of clothesImage source, Getty Images

    One of the UK's biggest fashion retailers, Marks and Spencer, said: "We are working towards reopening more space from June."

    But analyst Richard Lim of Retail Economics said stores "will have to discount heavily" to sell excess stock that may now be out of season.

  3. In pictures: Trials and smiles on a Covid-19 unitpublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Medics sitting in a hospitalImage source, Glenn Dene

    These images capture tenderness, fear and elation in one intensive therapy unit near the English Welsh border during the pandemic.

    A doctor with his head in his handsImage source, Glenn Dene
    A coronavirus patient leaving hospitalImage source, Glenn Dene
  4. 'Children are not super spreaders'published at 09:55 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    BBC Breakfast

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  5. 🐦 The dawn chorus singing through lockdown 🎵published at 09:45 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News

    Turn the sound on and let the dawn chorus give you a gentle start to the day.

    With rush-hour traffic dramatically reduced because of the coronavirus lockdown, song birds can now be heard more clearly.

    BBC cameraman Geoff Ward captured the sights and sounds of early morning in Shrewsbury.

  6. Cornish Pasty making 'reconnects us' in lockdownpublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Amy Gladwell
    BBC News Online

    Hundreds of people have connected with their Cornish heritage by making a pasty for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

    An army of keen bakers have made the traditional pastry dish and other local favourites, inspired by "International Stay at Home and Make a Pasty Day".

    Leo and a Cornish PastyImage source, Family photo

    The ritual which has been held twice, was created by Cornish comedian Edward Rowe, known as Kernow King.

    The campaign has added Hevva cake and saffron buns to its repertoire in May.

  7. 'I had no clue what to do with my little boy'published at 09:11 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Claire Gilbody-Dickerson
    BBC News

    A mum who fears she will have to choose between her job and caring for her son is calling for more clarity from the government over what parents should do.

    Zoe, 24, from Plymouth, said she had "no clue what to do with my little boy" when people who cannot work remotely were told to return to their jobs.

    Child playing with toysImage source, Getty Images

    The care home worker's partner had been looking after their son until the prime minister's announcement last week.

    Now he is back in the workplace, Zoe has asked to be furloughed.

    She is currently waiting to find out if she will be allowed to stay at home and care for their two-year-old boy and still receive an income. Read Zoe's story here.

  8. Coronavirus: Morning updatepublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Coronavirus update logo

    If you're just joining us, here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this morning.

    Coronavirus: Morning update

    Five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this morning.

    Read More
  9. Loss of taste and smell added to list of Covid-19 symptomspublished at 08:48 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    BBC Breakfast

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  10. 'Miracle' father home in time for son's birthdaypublished at 08:38 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Charlie Jones
    BBC Local Live

    A father who had coronavirus, pneumonia, sepsis, heart failure and two strokes has achieved his goal of being at home to celebrate his son's birthday.

    Omar Taylor, 31, spent six weeks fighting the illnesses at Colchester General Hospital in Essex.

    Omar Taylor and son HarrisonImage source, KAITLYN TAYLOR

    His wife Kaitlyn said he was "determined" to get better for their son's second birthday.

    "Harrison gave him the strength and willpower to make it home," she said.

  11. UK too slow to increase testing capacity, say MPspublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    BBC Politics

    The government's ability to test people for coronavirus has been "inadequate" throughout the pandemic, a committee of MPs has said.

    The Science and Technology Committee said capacity had not been increased "early or boldly enough".

    A woman being tested for coronavirus through a car windowImage source, PA Media

    It said a lack of capacity had driven initial decisions in mid-March to scale back contact tracing and largely restrict tests to hospital patients.

    No 10 said testing had since been expanded on "an unprecedented scale".

  12. Football edges forwardpublished at 08:09 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    BBC Sport

    A footballerImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Players have been training individually until now

    From today, England's Premier League footballers can restart group training under strict conditions.

    Clubs can expect surprise inspections to monitor compliance.

    A decision on whether or how to end the season is yet to be taken though, and there's now an expectation that the suggested restart date of 12 June will need to be pushed back.

  13. Young people 'most likely to lose job' in lockdownpublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    BBC Business News

    Young people are most likely to have lost work or seen their income drop because of the coronavirus pandemic, a report suggests.

    More than one in three 18 to 24-year-olds is earning less than before the outbreak, research by the Resolution Foundation claims.

    Woman looking at a car engineImage source, Getty Images

    Around a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds have been furloughed and 9% have lost their jobs altogether - the highest figure out of all age groups.

    Industries that traditionally employ younger staff such as pubs, restaurants and leisure centres have remained shut throughout the UK's eight-week lockdown, as have many shops. You can read the full story here.

  14. Did VE Day parties cause a spike in Covid-19 cases?published at 07:43 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    A street party in Chester in period dressImage source, Getty Images

    One day last week the number of new coronavirus cases registered at Bradford Royal Infirmary jumped to 30.

    Dr John Wright thinks there could be a link to VE Day parties that ended in fist fights, or in embraces.

    "As alcohol began to have its effect, staff in our accident and emergency unit began seeing evidence of a collapse in social distancing," he said.

  15. Cycling push post lockdown 'not possible'published at 07:36 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Towns and cities must be made cycle-friendly if a change to commuting habits is to succeed, campaigners say.

    Cycling and walking are being backed as alternatives to public transport as people who are not able to work from home, are encouraged back to work.

    Cyclists in a cityImage source, AARON CHOWN/PA MEDIA

    The latest government survey data before lockdown, however, showed three in five people thought cycling on the road was too dangerous - 61%.

    Campaign groups said infrastructure improvements would be key.

  16. UK unemployment increases by 50,000published at 07:30 British Summer Time 19 May 2020
    Breaking

    Breaking News image

    UK unemployment rose by 50,000 to 1.35 million in the three months to March, as the effects of the coronavirus lockdown started to hit the economy.

    The unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%, slightly up on the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics said., external

    Before the lockdown began, employment had hit a record high.

    The figures only cover the first week of the lockdown and the total is likely to worsen sharply in the coming months.

    Read more on this story here.

  17. Good morningpublished at 07:30 British Summer Time 19 May 2020

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC News

    Thank you for joining me for updates on coronavirus across England.

    I'll bring you the latest news, information and analysis from our experts.

    I'll also be highlighting some of the things we have to smile about.