Summary

  • Updates from 20 to 24 April 2020

  1. How MI5 is adapting to fight coronaviruspublished at 09:51 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Gordon Corera
    Security correspondent, BBC News

    Andrew Parker

    As he prepares to step down after seven years of leading MI5, Andrew Parker speaks to the BBC about coronavirus, counter-terrorism and how the Security Service has changed since he joined in 1983.

    Inside MI5 headquarters at Thames House, Andrew Parker concedes it is a strange time to be leaving the organisation he has led for the last seven years.

    Like other organisations, the Security Service has had to rapidly adapt to a new, unexpected world in the last few weeks since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

    The priority has been to maintain its operations so that the emergency services can focus on Covid-19.

    "At this time - maybe even more than normally - it is vital that the nation's national security machine is working so that the national emergency we are in now isn't further complicated or compounded by other events," Mr Parker says.

    Find out more here.

  2. London buses middle-door boarding beginspublished at 08:22 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

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    From today, passengers will only be able to board London buses using the middle doors.

    The change was announced last week after concerns that 26 bus workers had died in the capital after contracting coronavirus.

    Mayor Sadiq Khan said the move would "protect our incredible workers".

  3. 'I'm the nurse who switches off the ventilator'published at 08:09 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    JUANITA NITTLAImage source, JUANITA NITTLA

    Having access to a ventilator can mean the difference between life and death for patients who are seriously ill with Covid-19. But sometimes even these breathing machines cannot save someone's life.

    Switching off ventilators is part of Juanita Nittla's job.

    She's a chief nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) at London's Royal Free Hospital, and has been working for the NHS as an intensive care specialist nurse for the past 16 years.

    The work is traumatic and painful, the 42-year-old says. "Sometimes I feel like I am somewhat responsible for someone's death."

    Find out more here.

  4. Good morningpublished at 08:03 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    BBC London

    Good morning and welcome to our live page bringing you the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic as it affects Londoners and other breaking news.