Some of the UK's largest charities are to help the developers of a Covid-19 Symptom tracker app get the over-70s to use it.

Image source, Press Association

So far more than 2.5 million participants have downloaded the NHS-endorsed app created by King's College London and health science company ZOE.

But app designers want more over-70s and people with pre-existing health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma, to sign up as they are considered most at risk from Covid-19.

Claire Steves, clinical senior lecturer at King's College London, said they would help developers "capture more data from people who may be less able to use an app".

Since the app was launched on March 24, the day after the nationwide lockdown was introduced, developers have found fewer older people logging in.

She said it was important to get the over-70s and those with pre-existing conditions more involved as Covid-19 symptoms may be different.

"They might present with other things, like a confusional state or maybe diarrhoea, abdominal symptoms.

"If we can really prove that and know that and share that with everybody then potentially that could be really important in reducing spread from the virus."

She said understanding such symptoms could also help with the tackling the presence of Covid-19 in care homes.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, Getty Images

The 7,000 TfL employees who will be furloughed will be on the government scheme for three weeks initially, London's Transport Commissioner has warned.

Mike Brown said: "The transport network is crucial in the fight to tackle coronavirus and it will play a similarly vital role in supporting the country's economy as it recovers from the pandemic.

"We have significantly cut our costs over recent years but nevertheless the success of encouraging the vast majority of people to stay at home has seen our main revenue, fares, reduce by 90 per cent.

"We are now taking steps to use the Government's Job Retention Scheme to further reduce our costs where work has been paused because of the virus, while at the same time supporting our staff financially.

"Our work with the Government about the support that we need are ongoing and are constructive.

"We hope for an urgent agreement so that we can continue to provide the city with the vital transport it needs now and going forward."

Thousands of runners across the UK are being urged not to lose heart ahead of Sunday, the day the now-postponed London Marathon was scheduled to take place.

A campaign set up by the marathon organisers is encouraging participants to harness their frustrations into different fundraising activities and stay physically active despite the disappointment.

The 26.2-mile race - which would have marked the event's 40th anniversary - was due to be held on April 26 but has been postponed until October 4 this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Every year for the past 13 years, the marathon has set a world record for an annual one-day fundraiser, with £66.4 million raised in 2019 and more than £1 billion raised since the first race in 1981.

Martin Yelling, one of the marathon's official coaches, says it is natural for runners to be "a bit disappointed and deflated".

"They were going to raise a lot of money for really important charities and have a really amazing day, so it's quite natural to feel a bit deflated," he said.

He says that is a great opportunity for people who may have lost some motivation with their training to refocus themselves.

People can choose to do any sort of activity they like for Sunday's 2.6Challenge, external.

Sophie Allen, a charity worker from Romford, plans to swim 2.6km in her back garden to raise money for London's Air Ambulance service while award-winning mixologist Paul Martin will produce 26 cocktails in 26 minutes.

The challenge also aims to recoup some of the money that charities will lose out due to the race's postponement.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Google

A pub landlord has been live streaming quirky quizzes in the hope of putting a smile on people’s faces during the lockdown.

Scott Illman, who runs the Magpie and Crown pub in Brentford, has attracted an international audience to his "virtual happy hours" on Facebook, with guests from South Africa, Canada, Scottish isles and the United States taking part.

Dressing up in wacky shirts, comic face masks and using his children’s toy box for props, the 45-year-old said the evening entertainments are not about making money.

“There are a lot of people out there that are quite lonely and a lot of people that aren’t getting their weekly fix at the pub…I wanted to do something a bit fun,” Mr Illman said.

On Thursdays, Scott hosts a games night with punters from their living rooms such as darts and blackjack – with live interaction from viewers telling him what to do.

And on Wednesdays and Fridays the dad-of-two runs pub quizzes with rounds such as ‘say what you can see’ using his son’s toys and music questions.

Saturdays also showcase musicians’ talents performing to viewers over video.

However Scott, who also owns a restaurant in Clapham and a small home rental business, has said he is lucky not to solely rely on his pub business during the crisis but admits his income is “coming to a halt”.

“It is a scary time for a small business owner,” he said.

Image source, Crown and Magpie

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, Getty Images

Reacting to the news that thousands of TfL staff are set to be furloughed, Sadiq Khan has said he wants to be "honest and upfront" about the "profound" impact coronavirus is having on public transport.

"There will be no quick return to business as usual," the Mayor of London said.

Mr Khan said TfL has been hit with high levels of staff sickness and self-isolation during the pandemic meaning services for key workers have been significantly reduced.

He said TfL was the only transport authority in western Europe that did not receive a grant for day-to-day running.

"The challenge for TfL is very acute," Mr Khan added.

“TfL needs to be able to help London get moving again safely and sustainably as restrictions on movement are lifted.

"We are in positive and constructive conversations with the government about funding that recognises the impact on TfL of playing its vital role in the effort against the virus, and I am confident we will reach a resolution."

Tom Edwards
Transport Correspondent, BBC London

It has been called the most serious financial challenge ever faced by the capital's transport agency.

Using just simple maths TfL is in trouble - you can't run a transport agency without fare revenues. Now it has set out what it will do and it involves furloughing a quarter of its staff.

Also interesting is how the future of London will look when the lockdown ends. If social distancing is in place buses and the Tube will only be able to carry a sixth of passengers.

That means a huge campaign of "travel management" to get passengers to phase journeys and shift the rush hour - the like of which we haven't seen since the Olympics.

But, big infrastructure projects also now hang in the balance. TfL's future is entirely dependent on a government bailout - which will have to be big.

At present it costs £600m a month to run the system - or there will be cuts to services.

You can read the latest story here.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, Getty Images

Around 7,000 Transport for London staff are to be furloughed, Sadiq Khan has announced.

TfL is also "urgently" seeking an agreement with the government over a bailout as financial woes continue.

The Mayor of London warned transport "will not immediately return to normal" when lockdown measures are relaxed.

London's Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown MVO, said TfL's main revenue - fares - had plummeted by 90 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Pavements in one London borough are being widened to allow shoppers to maintain social distancing.

Image source, Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Hammersmith and Fulham Council said work started yesterday in King Street and Uxbridge Road to install temporary barriers and weighted cones to reduce the width of the roads.

The temporary changes will be complete by today and will take roads down from two-lane to one-lane, or 3.5 metres-wide, for vehicles.

Sections of the cycle lanes on both sides of Uxbridge Road will close to make space for the wider pavements.

White pavement markings with two metres spaces will also be painted to help people social distance while queueing for shops.

The council’s cabinet member for the environment, Wesley Harcourt, said: “People have told us they want to be able to queue safely when doing essential shopping.

"These temporary measures will do just that and put their health first.”

Sarah Lee
BBC London

London fashion designer Daniel Fletcher is helping to fight coronavirus by making face masks for his grandmother's care home.

Mr Fletcher, who is best known for featuring in Netflix's Next in Fashion, took to Instagram to urge people to get sewing to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

"I’ve spent the afternoon making a batch of masks for my grandmother’s care home which, like many others are in are in desperate need right now," he said.

Mr Fletcher, who is the founder of menswear brand Daniel w. Fletcher, came second place in the Netflix series hosted by Tan France and Alexa Chung, after missing out on the top spot to fellow designer Min Jun Kim.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Two suspects are still wanted over an attack on a UCL student from Singapore who has said he was beaten up by a group of men who told him: "I don't want your coronavirus in my country."

Jonathan Mok, 23, said he was walking down Oxford Street on 28 February when he heard shouts of "coronavirus".

When he confronted the four men, he previously told the BBC, they launched a surprise attack that left him badly hurt.

The Met Police said it was treating the attack as "racially aggravated" and arrested two teenagers in March.

Two boys, aged 16 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and remain on bail, the Met Police has said.

Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby, the officer in the case, said: “This attack left the victim shaken and hurt.

"There’s no room on our streets for this kind of violent behaviour and we are committed to finding the perpetrators.

“I am keen to speak to anyone who has information about this assault."

Image source, Getty Images

Baroness Doreen Lawrence will lead a review into the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, the Labour Party says.

The campaigner and mother of murdered London teenager Stephen Lawrence has been appointed as Labour's race relations adviser by leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The review will examine why the virus appears to disproportionately impact those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The government has also commissioned an investigation into the issue.

Full story

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A ticket inspector on Croydon’s trams has died after contracting coronavirus, it has been revealed.

The unnamed man is the 29th transport worker in London to die from coronavirus, the BBC understands, 22 of whom were bus drivers.

A spokesperson for Transport for London said: “Sadly, a revenue inspector working for the Tram Operations London team died earlier in the month due to Covid-19.

“Our thoughts are with his family, colleagues and friends.”

A tram driver on the network who asked not to be named told us that ticket checking on the trams themselves has now been stopped and is taking place on platforms instead. But this has not been confirmed by TfL.

In a statement, The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “My thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones at this very difficult time.

“This is deeply personal – I can’t help but think that this could have been my dad or his colleagues and friends.”

Additional cleaning is being carried out on trams every night and floor stickers are being introduced at the busiest stops, East Croydon and West Croydon stops.

This is also set to be rolled out at other tram stops.

Karl Mercer
Political reporter, BBC London

One of most distressing aspects of this pandemic is how some people are tragically dying without any of their loved ones by their side.

But hospitals have been doing what they can to ensure Covid-patients are not alone.

London's Nightingale Hospital has two chaplains; Father James Mackay and Imam Yunus Dudhwala, who have been offering prayers, hope and comfort to both patients and their families.

"I think families are anxious, they're worried because usually in a tragic setting, families are the ones who come and support patients, stand next to the patient's bed, hold their hand," said Imam Yunus.

"To call families and say I've been to see your loved ones, I've spent time with them. I stroked their head, their hand, that's brought a lot of comfort," added Imam Yunus.

Both said the experience has been an honour and uplifting for them also.

Father James said: "I come out of here emotionally and physically exhausted. I go home, sit in my chair and think this is why I was ordained as a priest.

"It's the most meaningful work I think I've done in my ministry and really makes me happy to be a priest," he added.

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC London News

Image source, EPA

Luxury brand Burberry will continue to pay its employees during the coronavirus pandemic, the company has announced.

All of Burberry's UK stores are closed as part of the country's lockdown to stem the spread of the virus.

The firm announced that staff who are unable to fulfil their roles because of store or site closures during the coronavirus crisis and will not rely on government help

Burberry, which warned last month its fourth quarter sales would be 30 per cent lower due to the pandemic, said it was continuing to look hard at its cost base, reducing spend on non-essential areas.

While many UK companies have utilised the government's furlough scheme, which sees employees paid 80% of their salary, Burberry said it would not rely on government support for jobs in the UK where more than a third of its workers are based.

Inside Croydon

A member of Croydon Council staff, Asha Walrond, has died of coronavirus, it has been announced.

Walrond worked at New Addington’s Timebridge Community Centre as a customer service assistant.

Full story, external

BBC London

Callum has been doing the @TheBodyCoach, external workout every day. So BBC London organised a surprise for him and his family during The Big Night In.

The family of Sophie Fagan, a 78-year-old support coordinator who worked at the Homerton Hackney for more than 50 years and "refused to retire", have been speaking about her death from Covid-19.

Image source, Family

Sophie Fagan arrived from India in 1961 aged 16 and began working as a nurse in 1966.

Her son John said his mother "lived and worked the NHS. That's what she was at the end of the day," he said.

"My mum worked in the hospital where she died and she knew everybody there,"

His wife described her mother-in-law as a "beautiful mother, a beautiful grandmother who loved her family. She was an absolute gem, a diamond. If you ever met Sophie you'd fall in love with her," said Deni Fagan.

Sophie Fagan was unwell a few days before she was taken to hospital on Saturday.

The Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said she was "part of the healthcare fabric in Hackney".

Homerton's chief executive Tracey Fletcher said: "Sophie Fagan was an extraordinary woman and well-known across the Homerton site and indeed Hackney for over 50 years."

Image source, Family

British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley is among the artists sharing work from home during the health crisis.

Sarah Lee
BBC London

A new set of stamps is being issued to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Eight of the 12 stamps depict scenes of celebration by service personnel and civilians when news of the conflict's end was announced.

The eight images were originally photographed in black and white, but have been brought to life in colour for the first time by colourist Royston Leonard.They include pictures of crowds celebrating VE Day in London's Piccadilly, evacuees returning home to London after a stay in Leicester and troops marching along London's Oxford Street.

Philip Parker of Royal Mail said: "Our new stamps capture how the end of the war was greeted and the resulting return of service personnel after nearly six long years of conflict.

"We also pay tribute to those who never returned, and the victims of the Holocaust."

The stamps will be on sale from 8 May.

Middlesex become the latest county to furlough players and staff amid the coronavirus pandemic and delayed domestic season.