UK lockdown extended for 'at least' three weekspublished at 22:24 BST 16 April 2020
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says relaxing measures too early would harm public health and the economy.
Read MoreSummary
Refuse crews abused for rejecting bins
Roads painted with 'thank you' to NHS staff
Major fast food chains reopen for deliveries
What's life like in lockdown with eight kids?
Updates on Thursday 16 April
UK lockdown extended for 'at least' three weekspublished at 22:24 BST 16 April 2020
End of live updates for Thursdaypublished at 18:00 BST 16 April 2020
We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with more coverage of the impact of the coronavirus crisis in the West Midlands.
Vans used to separate bin crewspublished at 17:59 BST 16 April 2020
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom DavisBin lorries are being tailed by vans in Coventry to keep staff safe and allow them to follow social distancing rules.
The move allows two staff to be in the bin lorry's cab with a third in the support van.
Image source, Coventry City CouncilThe city council's using more than a dozen vans alongside minibuses that are no longer used by schools so crews can access toilet and handwashing facilities.
'Clap for Carers' tribute for Rugby hospital nursepublished at 17:56 BST 16 April 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsColleagues will remember a nurse who died of suspected coronavirus during this week's "Clap for Carers" tribute to NHS staff.
Image source, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustSister Leilani Dayrit, 47, who was based at St Cross Hospital in Rugby, had been self-isolating at home for seven days, her daughter said, before she died.
The University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said , externalshe was a "passionate and proud nurse" and they would be giving her a round of applause at 20:00.
"Clap for Carers" has become a weekly event every Thursday in the UK with people saluting NHS staff and other key workers.
Garden waste collections to resume in Warwickpublished at 17:53 BST 16 April 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsGreen bin collections are going to be restarted in Warwick after being suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Image source, Warwick District CouncilMany parts of England had suspended their garden bin and recycling pick-ups to give priority to household and clinical waste.
We told you earlier in the week garden waste collections had restarted in Worcester, external.
Warwick District Council says theirs will be back from Monday 20 April., external
Town decorated with 'ribbons of hope'published at 17:49 BST 16 April 2020
West Mercia Police tweeted these photos, external of "ribbons of hope" tied on railings and trees in Newport, Shropshire, and said they'd been put in place while residents took their daily exercise.
Image source, West Mercia Police
Image source, West Mercia PoliceAround the web: Tenants told to leave homes under new lawpublished at 17:45 BST 16 April 2020
Coventry LiveFrom Coventry Live:
Flower show cancelled for first time since WW2published at 17:40 BST 16 April 2020
Allen Cook
BBC NewsThis year's Shrewsbury Flower Show has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Shropshire Horicultural Society said, external it made the decision to not hold the event - set for 14 and 15 August - "with deep regret".
It added the only other times the show had been cancelled in its 132-year history was during World War One and World War Two.
'At least three more weeks' of coronavirus lockdownpublished at 17:37 BST 16 April 2020
The foreign secretary says the current lockdown measures will continue for at least three more weeks.
Read MorePolice sing Happy Birthday outside girl's homepublished at 17:36 BST 16 April 2020
A four-year-old in Warwick had the police arrive earlier - to wish her a Happy Birthday.
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End of X postWeather: Showers on their waypublished at 17:26 BST 16 April 2020
We're set for another fine evening which will turn into a dry night with mainly clear skies before clouds roll in during the early hours, bringing the odd shower. Low: 7C/45F.
Then there looks to be a change in the weather we've had for most of the week as it'll be mostly cloudy tomorrow, with heavy showers spreading in by late morning. High: 14C/57F.
Get the latest forecast for your area from the BBC Weather website.
Six deaths confirmed at Shropshire care homepublished at 17:10 BST 16 April 2020
BBC ShropshireSix residents diagnosed with coronavirus have died at a care home in Shropshire.
We told you earlier about the deaths at Park House Care Home in Kinlet, Bridgnorth, although the number was unclear.
Public Health England has since confirmed the figure.
Led Zeppelin singer makes NHS scrubs gesturepublished at 16:53 BST 16 April 2020
BBC Midlands TodayLed Zeppelin singer Robert Plant has donated thousands of pounds to a Kidderminster company which is producing scrubs for healthcare workers.
MG Sportswear usually manufactures uniforms for schools, sports teams and airlines but has seen business grind to a halt because of the Covid-19 crisis.
The firm says the money from the rock star will help produce 1,000 sets of scrubs for NHS and care home workers., external
Bentley Motors extends factory shutdownpublished at 16:32 BST 16 April 2020
BBC Radio StokeLuxury car manufacturer Bentley Motors is extending the shutdown of its plant in Crewe by another three weeks.
With lockdown measures still in place, the firm says it's now planning to start limited production on 11 May.
Full output would then resume a week later, under the company's latest plan.
Your photos: Flowers in the sunshinepublished at 15:58 BST 16 April 2020
There are lots of flowers blooming across the West Midlands now and our BBC Weather Watchers have been sharing their photos of them today.
Here are three from users Peter Flynn in Edgbaston, Birmingham; BymsterFromLimster in Ludlow, Shropshire; and Videoman in Leek, Staffordshire:
Image source, Peter Flynn
Image source, BymsterFromLimster
Image source, VideomanBlack Sabbath star's lockdown auction raises £19k for NHSpublished at 15:43 BST 16 April 2020
Nearly £19,000 for the NHS has been raised in an auction by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Image source, Ross VincentAmong the items up for grabs was one of Iommi's guitars, which alone raised £11,300.
The money will go to University Hospitals Birmingham in the musician's home city.
City's care workers 'could run out of PPE in fortnight'published at 15:20 BST 16 April 2020
Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC WMBirmingham’s front line care workers will run out of protective face masks within two weeks unless the government takes urgent action, according to the city's council leader.
Image source, Getty ImagesIan Ward along with two Birmingham MPs – Labour’s Liam Byrne and Conservative Andrew Mitchell - have sent a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick.
The letter says supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) are "running desperately low", and asks for the government to be clear whether there is a lack of supply.
The government says there is enough of this "precious resource" to go around and this week unveiled a new plan, external so "those who need PPE can get it and at the right time".
West Midlands death toll reaches 1,831published at 15:04 BST 16 April 2020
The number of people with coronavirus who've died in the West Midlands has reached 1,831, the latest figures show., external
NHS England recorded another 78 deaths today for the region.
Social distancing needed 'until vaccine found'published at 15:02 BST 16 April 2020
Scientists say "significant" measures should stay for some time, with the UK lockdown set to continue.
Read MoreNightingale hospital 'example of pulling together'published at 14:38 BST 16 April 2020
Prince William opens the Birmingham site and says "hospitals are about the people not the bricks".
Read More
