Summary

  • All the latest from Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Northants and Suffolk

  • Latest daily figures show 26 coronavirus-related deaths in the region's hospitals

  • About a fifth of Essex's primary schools are not expected to reopen from June 1

  • Motor manufacturer Ford says 90% of furloughed staff are now back at work

Live Reporting

  1. Banwo Makes a Difference with rap-style poem

    Local poet Banwo recorded this specially-written rap-style poem on Three Counties Radio as part of the BBC Local Radio Make a Difference campaign.

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  2. Celebrating lockdown courage and kindness through poetry

    BBC local radio

    Poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan has kicked off a new phase in BBC Local Radio stations' Make a Difference campaign by celebrating community, courage and kindness during lockdown in poems.

    He has written and recorded a poem for England entitled Lockdown Lines in which he celebrates thousands of "tiny local kindnesses" on a day to "Make a Difference in Poetry".

    Broadcaster and writer Ian McMillan shares a poem inspired by the coronavirus lockdown.

    During the day we will bring you poems written by local poets and broadcast on BBC local radio stations across the East.

  3. A fifth of primary schools expected to remain closed

    Piers Meyler, Local Democracy Reporter

    About 20% of primary schools in Essex could fail to reopen from June 1, the date set by Prime Minister Johnson for younger children and Year 6 pupils to return to education, Essex County Council has said.

    Teachers' unions have raised concerns over the safety of both staff and children in some schools, causing a possible delay.

    Essex County Council

    A council spokesman said: “We do not yet have a full picture from all primary schools, but current indications are that approximately between 75% and 80% of primary schools will be open in some form and 20% have indicated that they will not be opening on 1 June.

    “We will update these figures throughout the week.”

    Each school is responsible for communicating with parents and the school community about their individual decisions, the spokesman added.

  4. Coronavirus deaths in the East

    Matt Precey
    BBC Look East

    The latest number of new daily coronavirus deaths has been released by the government.

    In the East, there was an increase of 26 deaths in the region's hospitals, taking the total number to 3,580.

    The previous day's figure was 39.

    ·Anglian Community, Clacton Hospital: 1

    ·Basildon and Thurrock: 2

    ·East and North Hertfordshire: 1

    ·East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester hospitals): 2

    ·Kettering General Hospital: 5

    ·Luton and Dunstable: 3

    ·Mid Essex Hospital: 3

    ·Norfolk Community Health and Care: 1

    ·North West Anglia (Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke hospitals): 4

    ·Southend Hospital: 1

    ·Princess Alexandra: 2

    ·West Suffolk Hospital: 1

    The total number of Covid-19 associated UK deaths now stands at 37,837.

  5. Watford Town Hall lights up for NHS

    Katy Lewis
    BBC News Online

    Watford Town Hall was lit up blue last night as the nation took part in the last official Clap for Carers event.

    The council said the town was "right beside" all staff at West Herts Hospitals Trust where "an incredible" 312 patients had recovered from Covid-19 and been sent home from Watford General Hospital.

    "The town has shown incredible support by donating and volunteering," it said in a tweet.

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  6. Welcome to Friday's coronavirus updates

    We will be bringing you all the latest coronavirus news from across the East of England - from the latest statistics to how key workers and our communities are coping.

    If you have a story you wish to share - good or bad - please contact BBC News Online (East).

    Reach us via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or email us.