Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Music lovers have been left wondering whether festivals across the East Midlands will take place following the coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday, the organisers of Glastonbury, which was due to start on 24 June, decided to cancel the festival following government advice to avoid mass gatherings.

So where does it leave the big music events due to take place in our region?

The Dot to Dot festival, which is scheduled for 24 May in various indoor venues across Nottingham, said they are monitoring the situation "very closely" and will make decisions based on relevant advice

Image source, Download

Glastobudget, which is held in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, is still going ahead as planned on the same weekend.

Bearded Theory, set to take place on 21 May in Derbyshire, has an alternative date in September should the spread of coronavirus force them to cancel.

Download, one of the biggest rock festivals in Europe, is also still happening as things stand at Donington Park on 12 June.

The Y Not festival, which has been going for 14 years in the heart of the Peak District, is also still on for 24 to 26 July.

The same goes for Bloodstock, in Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, in August.

In all cases, the best advice is to keep an eye on each festival's social media channels.

Anna Church
Weather Presenter, BBC East Midlands Today

It will be a cloudy and damp day with some showers around but it's likely to settle down in the coming days.

Here's the full forecast...

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The leader of Gedling Borough Council has likened dealing with the coronavirus outbreak as "a marathon, not a sprint" as it becomes the latest authority to close centres and cancel public events.

From the close of business today, its community centres, leisure centres and the Bonington Theatre in Arnold will be closed to the public until further notice.

Image source, Google

Council leader John Clarke said: "Dealing with this virus outbreak is going to be a marathon, not a sprint, so it is vital we put in place appropriate and proportionate measures now to ensure we can work together to face this challenge."

The authority said it has decided to postpone the Arnold Carnival, which was planned for June, but parks and open spaces - including Gedling Country Park - would remain open for people to use.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

The annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking, which sees two villages battle over a small barrel, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The event, which takes place between Hallaton and Medbourn on Easter Monday, has only been cancelled once before in its 200-year recorded history.

Image source, Getty

Event chairman Phil Allan said he had "held off the decision for as long as possible", but had been guided by government advice.

"I am sure all the loyal supporters and fans of Hallaton Bottle Kicking will understand this decision, and let's all stay safe and healthy and look forward to next year," he added.

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Six patients with confirmed coronavirus are being treated at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, it has been confirmed.

The cases are in addition to a man, in his 80s, who died from coronavirus at Leicester Royal Infirmary last Thursday.

Image source, PA Media

The trust did not confirm which hospitals the patients were being treated at or what wards they were on.

In a statement, the trust said: "Every infection prevention precaution is being taken to protect patients and staff.

"The staff caring for the patients are trained and equipped to do so safely.”

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been arrested after a "serious" road accident in Nottingham.

A section of Derby Road between Cottesmore Road and Rolleston Drive was closed for several hours after a collision involving a car and pedestrian at 00:40.

Image source, Google

The condition of the pedestrian is not known.

Police said they were working to understand the circumstances of the crash and appealed for witnesses.

Charities are working to help pupils who are entitled to free school meals after they are sent home.

Tony Fowler has often taken other items to customers but has added to his services for isolated people.

Willie Thorne, one of snooker's most popular figures, is to undergo chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

An 89-year-old with an underlying health condition has died in a Nottinghamshire hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

The patient died at the QMC on Monday, Nottinghamshire University Hospitals Trust confirmed today.

He is the second person to die at the hospital after testing positive for the virus.

Image source, PA Media

Medical director Dr Keith Girling said: “His family has been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.

“We continue to follow all of the appropriate infection control guidance to provide safe and effective care to our patients.

"Patients with appointments should still attend as normal unless they have a new and continuous cough or a temperature in which case they should contact the telephone number on their appointment letter for further advice.”

This afternoon the NHS said a further 32 people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 99.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A community group set up to help residents affected by flooding is now branching out to help those suffering as a result of coronavirus.

The Lowdham Flood Action Groupin Nottinghamshire is offering services from food shopping to a friendly phone call.

Peter Cross, group organiser, said: “We need to pull together as a community - this is going to be awful.

“Originally we did it because we’ve been flooded twice in the last three months but we realised that Covid-19 is now overtaking everything in terms of priority.”

Image source, Peter Cross

He said there are about 100 volunteers on the database and any requests will be divided between them.

Earlier about 60 volunteers gathered to distribute leaflets.

Mr Cross said those in the village are taking the current coronavirus situation “very seriously” but said “it’s not in panic mode”.

“This sort of thing helps make folk more steady because they know there is something there,” he added.

Derby City Council says the authority is facing an "unprecedented situation".

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The City of Leicester College has been closed to all students today because of insufficient staff.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Anne Gregory said the staffing situation would be reviewed next week but it was likely the school would remain closed until after the Easter holiday.

She said pupils were still expected to study, with teachers available online setting work for Years 10 and 11 on a daily basis, as well as putting together projects for Years 7, 8 and 9.

Image source, Google

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

"Unprecedented demand" for items like hand wash, thermometers and baby milk has led to Boots limiting the amount customers can buy.

Image source, Boots/Facebook

The Nottingham-based health retailer said many of its "essential" items had proved popular since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.

Seb James, Boots' managing director, said: "Thank you for supporting us and appreciating these limits as we try to help as many people as possible."

The retailer has not specified how many of each item a person can buy.

Image source, AP

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A trust has closed its 12 academies in Nottinghamshire and a sixth form centre in Hucknall after the coronavirus outbreak left them unable to "operate safely".

Diverse Academies - which runs sites such as Tuxford Primary Academy (below) - said the decision to close was not taken lightly.

Image source, Google

It said: "Due to significantly low levels of staffing available following the government's change in advice for self-isolation – and the ongoing unpredictability of this position – we are no longer able to continue to operate safely."

The schools are expected to remain fully closed until after the Easter break.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Aldercar High School in Langley Mill, Derbyshire, said it will be closed to Year 8 and 9 pupils, except those whose parents work in the emergency services.

Students with parents working "in the NHS and other first responder public services" can come into the school and will receive "basic supervised self-study", the school confirmed.

Headteacher Clare Hatto said the number of staff self-isolating means they "cannot provide the appropriate provision" for all of its pupils.

Image source, Google

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Rushcliffe School in West Bridgford has decided to partially close tomorrow after the new guidelines around self-isolation affected its staffing levels.

The school will only open to Years 7, 11, 12 and 13, with all other pupils being told to stay at home with work provided for them.

Image source, Google

In a letter to parents, the school said it would accommodate any children in Years 8, 9 and 10 whose parents work in the emergency services and front-line medical profession (regardless of year group) to allow those parents to continue working.

Principal Damian Painton said: "We have tried to avoid this for as long as possible and give as much notice as possible to you – but we do appreciate that this will cause inconvenience and apologise."

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Food waste and garden rubbish will not be collected in Derby after the city council announced it is suspending the services following the latest information on preventing the spread of coronavirus.

Collections for the black general waste and blue recycling bins will carry on as normal, but the authority said its plans are "being constantly monitored" in line with the latest government advice on protecting the public.

Image source, Derby City Council

Liam Barnes
BBC News

The vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham has written a letter to students advising them to return to their "permanent home" in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Shearer West said departments are contacting any students studying elsewhere on placements, and said the university is "making preparations" for any students who can't return home to stay at university accommodation.

All teaching will be done online from next Monday, but staff have also been written to and advised to work from home "where at all possible".

No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on campus.

Image source, University of Nottingham

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Kasabian's sell-out Summer Solstice gig may be postponed because of coronavirus, the mayor of Leicester has confirmed.

The band are due to play a homecoming gig at Victoria Park on 20 June, with 50,000 fans snapping up the tickets in minutes.

Sir Peter Soulsby said there is "every indication" promoter Live Nation will be postponing it.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked Live Nation for an update but has so far not had a response.