Coronavirus in the West Midlands: Latest updates

Summary

The dissolvable laundry bags given to NHS
Chinese city donates protective gear
Michelin factory to resume work
Senior police officer recovers from coronavirus
Children to get birthday visit from police
Updates from Wednesday 22 April

Live Reporting

Spending lockdown fixing a holepublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Both Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Councils have been taking advantage of the reduction in traffic during lockdown to mend potholes.
The Telford and Wrekin authority said it managed to fix more than 3,500 holes since the beginning of the year, which was a lot more than normal.
Image source, Getty Images
Shropshire Council has repaired more than 2,000 since the end of March, nearly halving the number needing repair.
Senior police officer recovers from coronaviruspublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
A West Midlands Police officer has been discharged from hospital 26 days after being admitted for Covid-19.
Ch Supt Phil Dolby, who was on a ventilator for weeks, tweeted his thanks to hospital staff.
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Around the web: Smoke fills the skies in hill firepublished at 10:57 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Shropshire Star
From the Shropshire Star:
- Smoke fills the skies in hill fire, external
- Telford council answers 8,000 calls for help, external
- Lockdown will cost charities millions, external
Firefighters remain at scene of large grass firepublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Firefighters are at the scene of a large grass fire on Cannock Chase which began yesterday afternoon.
The fire is now out, but six crews are making sure it doesn't reignite.
Image source, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Former goalkeeper offers mental health advicepublished at 10:13 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Former Coventry City goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has been taking calls from fans and offering them mental health advice.
The 38-year-old struggled with anxiety and depression later in his career and said the issues people were facing during the coronavirus lockdown were similar to those he faced when he retired from the game.
Image source, Getty Images
Kirkland said he thought the uncertainty over how long the crisis would last was the biggest issue.
Weather: Another sunny spring day forecastpublished at 09:43 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
BBC Weather
We're forecast another sunny day across the West Midlands, with blue skies and temperatures up to 20C (68F).
And we're expecting more of the same for the rest of the week, with temperatures set to rise even higher.
Image source, Dammo
Probe into dozens of pub lock-in reportspublished at 09:30 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
There have been 54 reports of illegal pub lock-ins reported in Stoke-on-Trent since lockdown began.
The city council said they related to 31 pubs, but none had been caught breaching the rules.
Image source, Getty Images
Landlords have been warned they could lose their licence if found in breach.
Around the web: City centre improvement planspublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Coventry Live
From the Coventry Telegraph:
- Latest improvements to city centre unveiled, external
- Arsonist sets fire to car on driveway, external
- Hunt for wanted man, external
Refuse workers report big increase in rubbishpublished at 08:49 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Refuse collectors are seeing a huge increase in the amount of rubbish being left out.
Veolia said household waste had increased by 27% and garden waste by nearly 200%, with people forced to stay at home.
The company is still collecting garden waste in Shropshire and said it was able to cope, but warned the pressure on its collectors is increasing.
Police force facing £3.3m losspublished at 08:30 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
West Midlands Police expects to lose more than £3.3m due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It's losing £500,00 because of not being needed at football matches or airports and also has had to spend £1m on personal, protective equipment for officers out working.
Image source, Getty Images
Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the cost of officers working from home was also a big factor.
Flooding debate delayed againpublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
A government debate on flooding in Worcestershire has been postponed again.
The discussion was due to be held last month but was held up when parliament rose early for Easter because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The debate had been rearranged to take place this week, but with Westminster business being cut back as part of the lockdown, it's been further delayed.
Good morningpublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 22 April 2020
Andy Giddings
BBC News
Welcome to Wednesday's live page, bringing you all the latest news across the West Midlands.
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