How do I get a food parcel?published at 18:46 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
At least 50,000 free weekly food parcels are to be sent out to clinically vulnerable people in England.
Read MoreSummary
Plea for paramedics to return to work
Care home desperately appealing for staff
Mayor answers call for NHS volunteers
'Police state' criticisms 'widely off the mark'
Call for hotel rooms for hospital patients
Peru tourists make it home
Updates on Tuesday 31 March
How do I get a food parcel?published at 18:46 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Andy Giddings
BBC NewsWe'll be back with more coverage from the West Midlands from 08:00 tomorrow.
Around the web: Beauty spots emptypublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Here are three stories from the Shropshire Star today:
- Beauty spots empty as locals make feelings clear, external
- Council plans 'sing for our carers' night, external
- Cars seized after drivers ignore lockdown measures, external
Council looks to hold meetings onlinepublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Local Democracy Reporting ServiceHerefordshire Council is looking into ways of holding virtual meetings over the internet.
Like other local authorities, it has had to suspend its regular meetings, but said if it gets approval from the government it will hold them online and stream them live.
Image source, GoogleThe council said if that isn’t possible, it will look to record any virtual committees and then publish them on its website, so the public can see them.
Charity issues 'desperate plea' for healthcare staffpublished at 18:27 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
A "desperate plea" for healthcare staff has been issued from a specialist home caring for residents with neurological injuries.
Image source, GoogleCastel Froma Neuro Care, which looks after 95 patients at Lillington House and Helen Ley House in Leamington Spa said it has seen two thirds of its 130 clinical staff unable to work due to coronavirus restrictions.
Some staff are unable to come to work because they are self-isolating or suffering from underlying health conditions, it said.
The charity cares for patients with brain injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease.
Other residents have suffered strokes or been injured in road traffic accidents.
The charity is urging people with some previous healthcare knowledge - for example retired nurses or care assistants to apply for paid roles.
Ex-England footballer's tips on surviving isolationpublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
The former England and Wolves player was forced into isolation after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Read MoreIn pictures: Birmingham during lockdownpublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Pictures show a deserted Birmingham due to the restrictions imposed on movement due to coronavirus.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, ReutersWhilst many of the larger shops have been boarded up, corner shops and convenience stores are still open for business in the city.
Image source, ReutersVacuum cleaner-maker told ventilators not wantedpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Vacuum cleaner-makers Gtech have been told the ventilators they were planning to make aren't wanted by the government.
The Worcester-based company said it was approached by the government to draw up designs on 15 March and was given approval on Friday, 20 March, to make 30,000 of the ventilators.
But chief executive Nick Grey said the firm had now been told the government did not want them to proceed at this time.
Image source, Getty ImagesMr Grey said they would complete and publish its design, because there had been a lot of interest from other countries.
“Gtech stand ready to go into production with your support should they be asked to do so.”
He also said Gtech could produce around 100 per day within a week or two.
Stay inside message reinforced in Legopublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
The message to stay at home during the coronavirus restrictions is being reinforced - in Lego.
Image source, Legoland Discovery Centre
Image source, Legoland Discovery CentreOver 1,000 figures have removed from a display in Legoland Discovery Centre in the city.
Image source, Legoland Discovery CentreThe figures were removed before the centre closed its doors to the public.
Master builder Michelle Thompson said the image was being released "to support the message of how important it is to stay inside".
Huge green waste increase as people tidy gardenspublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
With people forced to spend more time at home, it seems many are spending their time tidying up their garden.
Telford and Wrekin said last week it collected 70 tonnes of garden waste, compared to just 20 the week before.
Image source, Telford and Wrekin CouncilMusic ‘helps children reduce stress’published at 17:05 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
People are coming up with all sorts of different ways to entertain children stuck at home.
Eleanor Pittam, who normally runs musical classes for under fives in Shropshire, has switched to producing YouTube videos of her classes and believes music is important to relieving stress for children.
She said: “At this time, it's more important than ever that children maintain a routine and some familiarity with 'normal' life and the videos have helped enormously with this according to the feedback I have received from parents.”
She said many parents had sent her videos of their children interacting with the sessions which she said was heartwarming.
Police told to be 'consistent' on lockdown powerspublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
The guidance to officers comes amid criticism of how some forces have enforced social distancing measures.
Read MoreChanges to bin collections in townpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Bin collections in Newcastle-under-Lyme are changing this week.
Garden waste bins will be collected on the same day as household rubbish bins, instead of alternate weeks.
The council will also no longer take textiles or small electrical items, which should now be put in the household waste bin, along with food waste from the green caddies.
The kit being used to treat coronavirus patientspublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Paramedic Ben Nicholson talks about the kit he is having to wear during the coronavirus outbreak.
Read MoreMake A Difference: Action for rough sleeperspublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
BBC WMMany of us are finding being confined to our homes hard enough, but what about if you don’t have a home at all?
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Change into Action campaign is there to help rough sleepers in the West Midlands and is supported by the Combined Authority.
All donations, however large or small, are welcomed by them, and if you know of somebody in your area who would benefit from their help, they also want to hear from you. You can find out more on their website, external.
Coronavirus: Why experts want a contact-tracing apppublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
A team of academics advising the UK government explain why the NHS should deploy a virus alert app.
Read MoreGin distillery making sanitiser for policepublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
A Worcester gin distillery, which has started producing its own hand sanitiser, is supplying West Mercia Police and Royal Mail, among other organisations.
Piston Gin is one of a number of distilleries to switch production and last week sold more than 60,000 bottles.
Make A Difference: Emergency fund for Birmingham hospitalspublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
An emergency appeal has been launched at Birmingham Children's and Birmingham Women's Hospitals to help support parents and staff through the coronavirus crisis.
Image source, GoogleIt will enable funding of emergency overnight accommodation for parents, food, drinks and care packages for frontline staff to sustain them and to cope with the challenges ahead.
People can donate online, external.
Quote MessageThis emergency fund will fund everything from the here and now, look after both parents and our staff, but also it will give us the flexibility to be able to adapt and cope with the challenges that are coming."
Louise McCathie, Director of Fundraising
GPs demand 'clarity' over protective gearpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Doctors fear some patients could have the virus but no symptoms and unwittingly infect staff.
Read MoreWhat to do if your neighbours are throwing a partypublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 31 March 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom DareResidents living across the West Midlands should contact police if they suspect neighbours of hosting a party during the coronavirus pandemic, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has said.
Image source, West Midlands Police and Crime CommissionerSpeaking after Derbyshire Police were called out to a 25-person get-together, David Jamieson said it is important not to go round to the house of a person you suspect of breaking social distancing rules.
Instead, the police boss says, residents should contact police via online chat or, if completely necessary, by calling 101.
People have been encouraged to stay home, only leave their house for essentials such as food, medicine and exercise, and not to meet up with people outside their own household.
