Local Democracy Reporting Service
Tom Dare

The government must "get a grip" on Coronavirus testing if Birmingham is to avoid a full lockdown, a local MP has said.

Image source, Liam Byrne

Speaking after a visit to a local testing centre in Saltley, Labour MP for Hodge Hill Liam Byrne said some people had highlighted the difficulties in getting a test.

“We had stories of people being sent all over the country from Saltley, even though the testing facility in Alum Rock had spaces," he said.

"One guy, who works in a warehouse, basically said he had lost his job because he’d had to take time out to try and get a Covid test for his son, and when he couldn’t get an appointment he was having to look after his son. And then he’s lost his job as a result."

The health secretary says "inappropriate" use was making it harder for people to get tested.

The Department of Health has said about a quarter of people requesting tests have no need to do so - and only those with relevant symptoms should book.

Bubbles of pupils from 82 schools in Birmingham are currently isolating at home after positive Covid-19 results were identified.

Image source, Reuters

About 7,000 pupils are affected, but this was out of a cohort 207,000 under local authority control, said Birmingham's council leader.

"We expect that 14 of those bubbles should be returning to school next week," said Ian Ward.

"Our situation is not dissimilar to other parts of the country.

"I've also asked the education department here in Birmingham to engage with schools to ensure that we are taking steps to ensure children who have to isolate can continue with their education."

League One club Shrewsbury Town sign midfielder Shilow Tracey on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

From Tuesday, households will not be allowed to mix in Wolverhampton as coronavirus cases rise.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
Political Reporter, BBC Radio WM

A Nightingale hospital in Birmingham has been put on a "higher alert" footing amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

Dr David Rosser, the chief executive of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust said from Monday it would be put on to a "previously higher alert" meaning it could be used within 48 to 72 hours, if needed.

Image source, NHS Nightingale Birmingham

"We are not looking to open it in the near future," he said, but heath bosses were "sufficiently concerned to put it on the higher alert state".

He added the Nightingale hospital didn't have any staff of its own, so doctors, nurses and other staff would have to be found from hospitals that were already "overstretched".

Express and Star

Here's how the Express and Star is reporting the extended lockdown measures that have been announced for Wolverhampton:

• Wolverhampton local lockdown measures confirmed to start next week, external
• 'Sublime to the ridiculous': Wolverhampton shoppers have their say on coronavirus rules, external
• ‘Circuit break’: Are we heading towards a second national lockdown?, external

More than 1,000 children in Wolverhampton are self-isolating after 15 pupils and two teachers tested positive for Covid-19.

"We think the bubbles are too big in schools," said council leader Ian Brookfield, "they're sending home whole year groups."

"So we're calling on the government to look at the national guidelines, because it can't be fair on the 980-odd children that they have to isolate."

He said the new restrictions introduced from next Tuesday would make it harder for families affected.

"If you think about it, there's about 1,000 families who have got to change their whole way of life.

"If we can get those bubbles smaller a lot of people would be a lot happier."

Confirmed coronavirus cases have risen five-fold in a fortnight in Wolverhampton, the city council has said.

There were about 60 cases per 100,000 residents in the seven days to 12 September compared with 12.6 cases in the week to 29 August.

"Some 90% of cases are linked to household-to-household transmission," the council said in a statement.

A new testing centre has opened in the city today.

"We're ready, willing and able to do as many tests as possible," council leader Ian Brookfield said.

"But of course," he added, "like everywhere else in the country they're being stopped due to lack of laboratory space."

BBC Radio Stoke

Hundreds of schoolchildren in Staffordshire have been sent home because of coronavirus less than three weeks into the new term.

Image source, PA Media

Twenty three schools which come under local authority control have had positive cases, said the county council.

In Stoke-on-Trent. 131 pupils have either been confirmed to have the virus, or are self-isolating after being in contact with someone who does.

Earlier this week, England's education secretary Gavin Williamson said schools were being prioritised, amid claims by head teachers of problems accessing tests.

Further coronavirus restrictions are to be introduced across parts of the West Midlands.

In Wolverhampton, residents will be banned from socialising with other households in private homes and gardens, unless they are part of their support bubble .

The new restrictions will be introduced from 22 September.

Leamington Spa railway station is set to get a makeover as part of a £1.2m scheme.

It's expected to be carried out ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games when the town will host the lawn bowls and para bowls competitions.

Image source, Warwick District Council

Works will include:

• The development of a new public space in the station forecourt to create a welcoming hub on arrival.
• Improved public transport connectivity.
• The refurbishment of the station underpass to improve the route between the station and town centre.
• Increased cycle racks and storage.

The project has now been adopted by Warwickshire County Council which has agreed to oversee the design and delivery stages of the works.

Police say they are still looking for other people in connection with the death of Murtaza Nazir.

West Brom sign 20-year-old English midfielder Conor Gallagher on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Birmingham Live

These are some of the Birmingham Live headlines today:

• Covid cases mapped - how to check your area, external
• GCSE pupils forced to self-isolate after positive Covid test, external
• Police shame drivers 'racing' at 'ridiculous' speeds down A500, external

BBC Radio WM

A West Midlands MP has said he will support further coronavirus restrictions expected to be announced later.

Measures banning households from mixing are expected to be introduced in Wolverhampton - following Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell.

In the week up to 14 September figures show the city had a rate of 52 cases per 100,000 - up from 50.2 the previous week.

MP for Wolverhampton South East Pat McFadden said an announcement on the measures was "highly likely" to happen.

"The infection rates have been rising sharply in Wolverhampton over the last couple of weeks," he said.

"The pattern has been quite clear, " he added.

"I would support whatever is in the public interest to get on top of this virus."

Saltley residents reported the dumped mattresses and other furniture at the beginning of August.

Armed officers were called to two separate reports of a man in possession of a gun in Stoke-on-Trent.

Police were first called to America Street in Tunstall at about 16:55 yesterday, but were unable to locate anyone matching the description.

Officers were then sent to Sandy Road in Sandyford at 18:00 following reports of a disturbance.

Firearms officers carried out a search of the area but again were unable to locate the man or the weapon, said Staffordshire Police.

BBC News Travel

Disruption to rail services between Birmingham and Manchester is set to continue until the end of the day.

Engineers are working on the faulty signalling system with tests being carried out along "several miles of railway," after the failure near Crewe said Network Rail.

BBC Weather

It will be a largely dry and sunny day for most with highs of 20°C (68°F).

This was the scene earlier in Halesowen, Dudley as captured by BBC Weather Watcher Stormchaser Al.

Image source, Stormchaser Al

The attack in Coventry saw two victims seriously injured and another suffer minor injuries.