Summary

  • Updates from Monday 24 February to Sunday 1 March

  1. Coronavirus alert: Rare syndrome seen in childrenpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Michelle Roberts
    Health editor, BBC News Online

    NHS doctors have been warned to look out for a rare but dangerous reaction in children that may be linked to coronavirus infection.

    CoronavirusImage source, Getty Images

    An urgent alert, external sent out to GPs said that intensive care departments in London and other parts of the UK have been treating severely sick children with unusual symptoms.

    This includes "multi-system inflammation" with flu-like symptoms.

    Some, but not all, tested positive for coronavirus.

    It is unclear how many children have been diagnosed with the new syndrome, although the numbers will be low.

  2. Radcliffe thanks marathon runner recovering from coronaviruspublished at 13:44 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    BBC WM

    A headteacher recovering from Covid-19 and who ran a marathon in his garage to raise money for the NHS got a surprise call at the end of his endeavour.

    Paul Hyde on his treadmill

    Paul Hyde, from Kidderminster, took to his treadmill after the coronavirus outbreak stopped him taking part in the London Marathon on Sunday.

    At the end of his effort he spoke to BBC WM and told them he feeling achey, having only recently recovered from having Covid-19 himself, but had raised over £2,200 for the NHS.

    Paul celebrating afterwards

    To his surprise he was then connected to Paula Radcliffe, a three-time winner of the London Marathon, who congratulated him.

    "It's an amazing achievement. I think you've made a huge difference to a lot of people," she added.

  3. 'Loved and respected' nurse dies aged 66published at 13:32 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Colleagues say Mahadaye Jagroop "served relentlessly" until contracting Covid-19.

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  4. University gives students Photoshopped farewellspublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    For many university students, handing in their dissertation is often their last visit to campus and a final chance to get some farewell photos.

    But then came lockdown.

    However, the University of Birmingham's come to its students' aid, external by asking them where'd they like to be and then Photoshopping them onto their favourite spots:

    One Photoshopped studentImage source, University of Birmingham
    Another Photoshopped imageImage source, University of Birmingham
  5. 'When will the pandemic end?' and other questions from kidspublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    BBC News Health

    What does the '19' mean in Covid-19? Can coronavirus survive in the Antarctic?

    Jonathan Ball, a professor of virology, answers science questions sent in by children, that you've probably been wondering too.

  6. Busy time for beekeepers during lockdownpublished at 13:05 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    No evidence of social distancing as swarm of bees discovered in Shropshire village.

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  7. Hot meals cooked for city's vulnerablepublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    The kitchen was set up in January and is now expanding to make more meals each week.

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  8. Rubbish removals 'thriving' under lockdownpublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Cath Mackie
    BBC News

    With household tips closed by local authorities to curb the spread of coronavirus, some people have been looking to private firms to clear their rubbish.

    For Junk Monkeys, in Droitwich, Worcestershire, it has meant extra-long days for staff, with bookings now running a week in advance.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Firm's lockdown life is completely rubbish

  9. Police at scene where 'armed' man is holding outpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Officers are talking to a man who is possibly armed and inside a flat on Birmingham Road.

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  10. Snapper completes back garden marathonpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    A freelance photographer's raised more than £1,500 by completing a marathon in his own back garden.

    Richard Harris after finishing his marathonImage source, Richard Harris

    Richard Harris, from Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, was among many due to take part in the London Marathon on Sunday before the coronavirus outbreak.

    Instead, he ran round his 10m (32.8m) lawn an estimated 2,600 times to complete the distance.

    Richard finished in three hours and 52 minutes, raising money for Activity Alliance, a charity which works to help disabled people be active.

  11. Self-employed missing out on financial aidpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Sophie Madden
    BBC News

    "To be told, thanks for the all pay-as-you-earn for the last 30 years, we are not going to give you anything as a new start-up business, it is a kick in the teeth."

    While the government has announced a number of support packages for employees and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, some new start-ups, and newly self-employed people say they are ineligible for financial help.

    Sarah KnottImage source, Sarah Knott

    Among them is Sarah Knott (pictured), a driving instructor from Shrewsbury who has taken up a job in a care home in order to keep some income while she is unable to run her business.

    They also include Laura Baxter-Smith, a self-employed hairdresser and mother-of-one from Shawbury in Shropshire, who has no staff and no premises.

    Read their stories and more here on the BBC website.

  12. Dancing and drumming group support NHSpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    A Bhangra dancing and drumming group is showing its support for the NHS with weekly pavement drumming sessions.

    Members of Eternal Taal, whose members range in age from six to 57, usually play at weddings and festivals under the leadership of Parv Kaur, from Coventry.

    But for now, due to the lockdown measures, they are developing their skills outside their homes every Thursday evening.

    Media caption,

    Eternal Taal dancing and drumming group support NHS

  13. Horse social distances in line at Co-oppublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Riyah Collins
    BBC News

    A horse has been spotted social distancing outside a Co-op after an on-the-hoof drink stop for its rider.

    The horse outside the Co-op in ChasetownImage source, Chris Wharton

    Chris Wharton was outside the shop in Chasetown, Staffordshire, when he said the horse "saddled up to me" before joining the queue on Saturday evening.

    It respected social distancing but proved the mane attraction and was "getting some fuss at the door," Mr Wharton said.

    It horsed around outside while the rider bought a drink, he added.

  14. Police pup tribute to Captain Tom Moorepublished at 10:34 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    A police dog's been named after the 99-year-old war veteran who has raised £29m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

    West Midlands Police held a public vote to name their new litter and said calling one Captain Tom Moore was the "absolutely overwhelming majority winner".

    World War Two veteran Capt Tom, from Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, has raised more than £29m for the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

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  15. Military tests key workers in mobile unitspublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    BBC News Health

    The military has started testing essential workers in the UK for coronavirus in mobile units operating in "hard to reach" areas.

    A member of the military taking a swabImage source, Getty Images

    At least 96 new pop-up facilities, which will travel to care homes, police and fire stations, prisons and benefits centres, are planned in total.

    It comes as the government aims to reach 100,000 tests a day by Thursday.

    The latest figures released by the government reveal a running total of 20,732 deaths of people with coronavirus, not including those in English care homes, which are collated separately.

  16. Firm's lockdown life is completely rubbishpublished at 09:19 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    A rubbish removal firm is seeing an upside to lockdown as trade booms.

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  17. Buildings damaged in industrial blazepublished at 09:18 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    BBC Hereford and Worcester

    Warehouses have been left badly damaged after a fire at an industrial estate.

    The fireImage source, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service

    Five fire crews battled the blaze last night on Oak Drive, Hartlebury, near Stourport, Worcestershire.

    The fire service said crews would check the site again today and hasn't revealed what caused the fire.

    The fireImage source, Hereford and Worcester Fire Service
  18. Coronavirus: Updates from across the North Westpublished at 09:15 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news from across the North West of England on Monday 27 April.

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