Care homes to allow goodbyes to dying
HS2 construction gets green light despite lockdown
Furloughed staff replace overseas farm workers
GPs 'begging and borrowing' PPE
Plans for new drive-through test centres
U-turn over park closure
Updates from Wednesday, 15 April
The number of deaths across the West Midlands linked to coronavirus has increased to 1,753, NHS England has said today.
Its figures show , externalanother 97 recorded deaths in the region.
A nurse working in critical care in Coventry said the staff there do have enough personal protective equipment (PPE).
It comes after the British Medical Association said supplies of PPE in some parts of England were at "dangerously low levels".
Image source, Getty ImagesMegan Richens told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire: "We are protected in the IC unit and we have several donations of visors, masks, gowns which we are more than grateful for."
Andy Hardy, chief executive of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, added "there's adequate stocks, we're going to make sure we keep those adequate stocks. We've got many days worth of stocks in advance."
The government has said there is enough of this "precious resource" to go around.
BBC Radio Stoke
Image source, Getty ImagesA GP in Stoke-on-Trent has told the BBC doctors in the area are "buying their own and begging, borrowing" protective equipment during the coronavirus outbreak.
The government says there is enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to go around and it has called in the military to help with distribution.
But Dr Cat Anderson from Trentham told BBC Radio Stoke some GPs are having to ask for help from engineering firms.
"We are bottom of the pile when it comes to Public Health England and NHS England handing out the equipment. We need to protect ourselves," she said.
Special hospitals have been set up around the UK to to treat people with coronavirus. Some of them are called Nightingale hospitals, here's why.
Read More
Stoke-on-Trent Live
From the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:
BBC Sport
Former Aston Villa and Birmingham City player Ron Wylie, who later went on to manage West Bromwich Albion, has died at the age of 86.
Image source, Getty ImagesA Baggies statement said Wylie, who started his career with Notts County, died after a long illness.
He won the League Cup with Villa in 1961 and captained their arch rivals Blues in an FA Cup semi-final.
A former inside forward, he managed West Brom between 1982 and 1984 and spent time on Villa's backroom staff.
The number of mourners allowed at funerals during the coronavirus lockdown in Solihull and large parts of the West Midlands is going to be increased, the council has said.
Image source, Getty ImagesWith the government telling people to avoid non-essential journeys and stay home, only six people were being allowed to go to funerals.
Now, Solihull Council's said, external it and the majority of councils in the West Midlands would now allow up to 10.
The town's cemeteries will remain closed to everyone else and are being monitored by the council's security team.
We're still seeing plenty of people tweeting thank you messages they've been leaving for bin collectors, NHS staff and key workers during the lockdown.
Sandwell Council shared this one today, external, a picture left for one of their refuse teams:
Image source, Sandwell CouncilA flamingo's been safely returned home to Dudley Zoo after reportedly being spotted walking down a street.
Image source, Dudley ZooHaleowen News said, external the flamingo was spotted by drivers on Tuesday afternoon "strolling down Castle Hill".
The zoo said today, external the bird decided to take her daily exercise there after "a gust of wind carried it".
Bosses said keepers were quickly on the scene and returned her home where she was self-isolating and "happily eating her breakfast".
A severe fire's being tackled by about 30 firefighters in Coventry this lunchtime.
West Midlands Fire Service tweeted, external just after midday that crews had been called to Fivefield Road, Keresley and the blaze was in the roof of a house.
It added everyone was out of the home.
Since coronavirus emerged in December, the world has been pitched headlong into dealing with a pandemic of the virus and the disease it causes - Covid-19.
Image source, Getty ImagesFor most, the symptoms are mild, but many people have died.
So how is the virus attacking the body, why are some people being killed and how is it treated?
The data released by the Office for National Statistics, external (ONS) gives us the best indication so far about how many lives are being lost to Covid-19 across England and Wales.
These are sobering statistics, setting new and unwanted records.
In the week ending 3 April, there were about 6,000 more deaths registered than in an average week and nearly 3,500 of them mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate.
The figures for the Midlands are the highest per week since records began, but they are only a little higher than the next highest week in January 2015.
That was at the height of the worst winter flu outbreak in recent years.
From today's Express and Star website:
Allen Cook
BBC News
We've had people dressing up in all kinds of ways during the coronavirus lockdown to entertain locals - but going shopping in costumes?
Image source, Rebecca Hedge-MiddletonThat's what Rebecca Hedge-Middleton says her brother and his partner have been doing every week for the past three weeks in Heath Hayes, Cannock, Staffordshire.
Their efforts include Star Wars characters and an inflatable shark and dinosaur - all, Rebecca says, "to try and bring a smile to the staff and customers".
Image source, Rebecca Hedge-MiddletonHere's what they look like without the costumes:
Image source, Rebecca Hedge-MiddletonFire crews have spent the night monitoring the site of a huge recycling blaze in Willenhall to make sure it's completely out.
Image source, West Midlands Fire ServiceAt its height yesterday, 60 firefighters were tackling the blaze involving about 1,000 tonnes of waste including cardboard and clothes.
West Midlands Fire Service said crews spent the night damping down hotspots, external at the site on Alvar Business Park, on Straight Road, Short Heath
Two new drive-through coronavirus testing centres are to be opened in the West Midlands.
Image source, Getty ImagesWorcester Warriors said , externaltheir car park would be used as part of plans to increase testing for more NHS and other key workers.
The other facility is set to open at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick.
Riyah Collins
BBC News
Reports of eight phone masts being targeted in suspected arson attacks or vandalism since the start of April are being investigated by West Midlands Police.
One of the sites provides important mobile connectivity to a hospital in Birmingham.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe news comes as trade group Mobile UK said there had been 20 more cases of masts being targeted over the Easter weekend.
Attacks on 5G masts pre-date the coronavirus pandemic. But there are concerns a surge in incidents of vandalism has been caused by conspiracy theories, which falsely claim 5G networks have helped accelerate the spread of Covid-19.
A decision to close a park due to people not following social distancing rules has been reversed after 48 hours.
Image source, GoogleOn Monday, Walsall Council tweeted , externalWalsall Arboretum was closed "with immediate effect" at the request of West Midlands Police.
But at 06:00 today, the local authority said, after more talks with police, it had decided to reopen the park today, external but reminded people to follow social distancing guidelines.
The news received hundreds of comments on the council's Facebook page with one user calling it "brilliant news, external" and another labelling it "a ridiculous idea, external".
BBC News Travel
An exit slip road's been completely shut on the M5 near Worcester after a vehicle spilt its load.
Highways England's closed , externalthe exit southbound at J7.
Image source, Highways EnglandAfter a chilly night with some frost we're in for a dry, sunny day with light winds. It should be warmer than the last couple of days. High: 17C/63F.
Image source, CountryMouseThe good weather will continue through this evening and tonight is set to stay dry with mainly clear spells, meaning it'll turn cool again. Low: 3C/37F.
Get a latest forecast at any other time from the BBC Weather website.
