Thanks for joining us to find out how the East of England is reacting to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.

Live updates have now finished for the day

Join us again on Wednesday when a live page will resume at 08:00.

Find it via your BBC News county index.

Suffolk Libraries plans to reopen most of its buildings from early July.

Government guidance is that libraries must remain closed for now, but can start to reopen from 4 July at the earliest as long as all the necessary precautions are followed.

Suffolk Libraries, external said most of its 44 outlets would reopen during the week beginning 6 July.

Image source, PA Media

Krystal Vittles, head of service delivery, said: "Many people have been enjoying engaging with us online but we know people have missed visiting their library so the prospect of reopening our physical sites is great news."

She said the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers "will remain the priority" and measures, external will be put in place to ensure social distancing.

Julian Sturdy
BBC Look East

The latest number of new daily coronavirus deaths, external has been released by the government and there was an increase of 29 deaths in the region's hospitals, taking the total number to 3524.

The previous day's figures recorded 19 new deaths.

The new deaths were at the following NHS trusts:

·Kettering General: 8

·Northampton General: 3

·Northamptonshire Healthcare: 1

·Basildon: 1

·Mid Essex: 1

·Southend: 2

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

·Cambridge University Hospital (inc Addenbrooke's): 3

·James Paget, Gorleston: 2

·North West Anglia (Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke hospitals): 2

·West Herts Hospitals: 1

·West Suffolk Hospital: 3

The total number of Covid-19 deaths across the UK now stands at 39,728

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The Environment Agency said it has begun to reopen its waterways to boats following the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The Anglian waterways, external and stretches of the River Thames were among the first.

Image source, PA Media

The agency said it had worked with lock keepers to help with safety, and fences have been put up at Hambleden Lock on the Berkshire/Buckinghamshire border to maintain social distancing for sailors on the Thames.

Image source, PA Media

The Canal and Rivers Trust said it had also begun the "phased reopening" of its canals to private boats.

• A virtual version of the Strawberry Fair is taking place this weekend, the Cambridge News, external says
• Peterborough acting police commissioner calls on public to clap for volunteers on Thursday, the Peterborough Telegraph, external reports

• Buckinghamshire County Council says enjoy country parks responsibly, the Bucks Herald, external reports
• Herts Live is doing live updates, external as McDonald's restaurants reopen
• The Herts Advertiser, external reports a crackdown on littering in St Albans and Harpenden parks has begun in response to a weekend of rubbish being dumped by picnickers

Pete Cooper
BBC News

A drunk man trying to win a bet had to be rescued by lifeguards on Clacton beach after his inflatable began drifting out to sea.

Tendring District Council said it does not usually operate its Beach Patrol in term times, but luckily for the man it is running extra coverage as most children are still off school.

Image source, Tendring District Council

The coastguard received three 999 calls with concern for the man yesterday evening.

A lifegaurd's jet ski travelled 500 metres off the beach to rescue the man, who was battling in vain against the waves.

Upon reaching him Beach Patrol said they realised the man was intoxicated, and learned he had been attempting to row out to a marker buoy after a bet.

Alex Porter from Tendring District Council said: "Sadly rescuing inebriated people who foolishly think they are stronger than the tide is nothing new.

"However, this misadventure – a third of a mile out to sea on an inflatable – was particularly dangerous, and at a time when public and emergency services are stretched dealing with Covid-19."

Image source, Science Photo Library

A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is to open at the Postwick Park and Ride East Anglia in Norwich, as part of the government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing.

The facility will in a "pilot" phase for its first few days of operation, with the first tests available from Saturday.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 - which include a new, continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste - can book an appointment on the NHS website, external or by calling 119.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A local authority is facing a shortfall of up to £20m as it battles to reduce the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

Documents reveal that current lockdown arrangements are costing Southend Borough Council, external up to £3m every month – and may leave arrears of up to £9.5m for its key services.

The council, which is led by a Labour, independent and Liberal Democrat coalition, has a budget of £130.5m for 2020-21.

Image source, Google

The report, which will be discussed at cabinet next week, external, explains the estimated cost is "very difficult to quantify" but there was declining income from parking and penalty enforcement notices during lockdown, combined with the high demand for social care.

Last month, the council’s deputy leader Councillor Ron Woodley (independent) revealed parking revenue, which would usually bring in around £500,000 a month had been cut to "nil".

When the council was asked whether this could mean cuts would be made to services, a spokesman said there would be "financial challenges" but it would be "too early to speculate on cuts".

Image source, Network Rail

A delayed £1m project to upgrade the footbridge at Welwyn Garden City railway station will resume on 11 June, says Network Rail.

It comes after additional defects were identified and severe weather and social distancing measures affected the progress of the project, which began in November.

The refurbishment will eventually include the installation of a lift and improved stairs, which aim to offer better better connections to the town. Network Rail said the remaining work will not have an impact on train services.

Work should be completed in July, it said.

Lack of demand due to coronavirus forces closure of Adelie Foods at eight sites, administrators say.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

On Tuesday MPs voted to reinstate a physical Parliament, despite a rebellion by 10 Conservatives.

Some MPs have said the Conservative government's plans risk excluding those with medical conditions or caring duties.

Responding to criticism, Boris Johnson said shielded and older members should be allowed to vote by proxy.

Later, the government will introduce a motion, allowing those MPs to be able to take part in questions virtually.

Robert Halfon, the Conservative MP for Harlow in Essex who is shielding and did not attend last night's vote on medical advice, said he was "very happy" to hear the news.

Currently, MPs who are new parents are able to arrange a proxy vote.

Mr Halfon was born with mild cerebral palsy. He has since developed osteoarthritis and walks using crutches.

Labour councillors in Essex are calling for a system to allow people to select a time slot to visit tips run by the county council, after long queues formed at sites after they reopened when lockdown rules were eased.

Image source, Essex Labour Group

Lee Scordis, who represents Abbey ward in Colchester, said the situation had left him "very frustrated":

"For the last week, we've seen huge queues blocking two roundabouts and at Colchester the average wait is around 90 minutes," he said.

"The thing that's annoyed me the most is that police time has been wasted on this.

"The police have got better things to do and the county council's response is we're going to rely on common sense and frankly that's not good enough."

The Conservative-run county council said people should only visit a tip if they have waste that poses a health and safety risk.

Some other county councils, such as Suffolk, reopened waste sites with a booking system in place.

• The Northampton Chronicle and Echo, external reports that police will be keeping a close eye on queues as five McDonald's drive-thrus reopen for business in and around Northampton
• The Northamptonshire Telegraph, external writes that plans to improve cycling facilities at Kettering's railway station have been given a six-figure funding boost - with more people using bikes to commute amid the pandemic

A reservoir almost ran empty due to warm weather and more people being at home, a water firm says.

The car park at the Cley Marshes visitor centre on the north Norfolk coast is reopening on Thursday, but the centre itself, as well as the hides and boardwalks, will remain shut.

The tweet from Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) has prompted a reply which warned that the area around Cley was already "blighted" by human waste and "if you can't open the toilets, the car parks should remain shut - unless you're gonna clean up after them".

The NWT's tweet does remind people to "please be considerate".

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

National Trust properties in the East reopening their park gates today to pre-booked visitors are already fully booked.

The number of visitors has been limited to roughly a third of capacity, to enable appropriate social distancing and the trust has warned people not to turn up without a ticket as they will be turned away.

Once inside, there will be safety information signs and the routes will be marked out, but there is no time limit to a stay.

Gardens and nature reserves may be open, but the stately homes and restaurants on estates remain closed.

Those opening today - and which are fully booked - are:

• Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire, external
• Ickworth, Suffolk, external
• Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, external
• Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire, external

• Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, external
• Stowe, Buckinghamshire, external

• Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, external

The trust said that over the coming weeks people will be able to book for more properties - but is urging visitors to limit the number of visits, to stay local and avoid busy hot-spots.

The following car parks also need to be booked:

• Blickling Estate, Norfolk , external(Fully booked)
• Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk, external
• Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate, Norfolk, external
• Houghton Mill, Cambridgeshire , external(Fully booked)

• Wicken Fen Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire , external(Fully booked)

Eddie Hunn turns 100 on Sunday but cannot see family or friends because of social distancing.

• The Gazette, external reports that as many as 200 jobs could be lost at a Colchester-based facilities management firm
• It also reports that, external the Harwich Motorcycle Run has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
• The Echo , externalreports that Southend traffic pollution has been cut by half during lockdown

Scientists want healthcare workers in Cambridgeshire to come forward to take part in a coronavirus vaccine trial developed by the University of Oxford.

Image source, PA Media

The COV002 trial aims to assess how well people across a range of ages could be protected from Covid-19 using a new vaccine. It will also provide information on the safety of the vaccine and its ability to generate immunity.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are offering an opportunity for healthy staff, aged 18 to 55, who have not been infected with coronavirus but have regular face-to-face contact with Covid-19 patients, to take part.

Anyone interested can visit the University of Oxford website, external.