A figure of a masked angel has been created by a laser cutting company at Terrington St Clement in Norfolk to mark the courage and dedication of staff dealing with coronavirus patients at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital, external in King's Lynn.

The design, by managing director of Javik Laser Creations, external James Hodge, was inspired by his paramedic partner and an NHS worker neighbour "who go out to work every day and put everyone else first".

Image source, Javik Laser Creations

Mr Hodge said: "It was done on a new machine and to my own surprise I was successful.

"I have spoken to the hospital but I do not know where it is going to go yet. I didn't want to get in their way as it has been a fraught day for them losing one of their colleagues and several patients.

"I just want to say the staff there are a different breed, not seeing their families and knowing all the risks. They are all amazing."

The plaque on the figure says: "Dedicated to all the staff at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital for their tireless work during the coronavirus crisis 2020."

Siren the kookaburra is a familiar sight, walking with his owner in the Norfolk countryside.

The florist says she wants to honour those who work for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

A "valued" healthcare assistant died after testing positive for Covid-19, a hospital said.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, external (QEH) in King's Lynn, Norfolk, said its staff were "coming to terms" with the "devastating" news that Christine Emerson died over the weekend.

Image source, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

It said Mrs Emerson was a "much-loved" wife to Michael and a "cherished" mother and grandmother.

The hospital offered its condolences to her family.

In a joint statement, chief executive Caroline Shaw and and Professor Steve Barnett, QEH chairman, said: "The whole family at QEH is deeply saddened at losing Chrissie Emerson who was such a valued colleague."

Teachers at a primary school came together in a social media montage to send a message to home-schooling pupils to remind them that lessons should have begun again today after the Easter holiday.

Staff from Peterhouse Primary Academy, external in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, lined up with placards carrying this special message: "Children your teachers miss you so much so please take care, stay safe and remember we are here and always the Peterhouse family."

Image source, Pedterhouse Primary Academy

Parent Becky Louise Lumb posted a thank you on social media which said: "This is lovely and we miss all of you as well.

"We hope you're all keeping safe too and remember us parents are here for you as well and we appreciate everything you're doing for us too - especially all you key workers that are looking after our children."

Another parent, Louise Thompson wrote: "My girls are missing all their teachers and friends."

The youngsters star in a film made by a nurse to urge people to protect the NHS from coronavirus.

Consultation on plans to upgrade part of the A47 in Norfolk to a dual carriageway has been extended until 23:59 on Thursday, 30 April.

The decision follows the closure of information collection points because of the coronavirus pandemic and is designed to allow more people living along the route to offer comments.

Image source, Highways England

Highways England, external has already announced its preferred option for five miles of new dual carriageway between North Tuddenham and Easton.

The scheme is part of a £300m upgrade which they say will save up to seven minutes on journeys and improve safety.

Image source, Highways England

Peter Havlicek, Highways England project lead, said: "Extending the consultation was the right thing to do in response to the disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.

"This extension will give everyone extra time to understand the changes and give us feedback, either online, external or by returning a paper response form."

Here's a look at the latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from Norfolk:

• The chairman of the National Care Association has told workers in Norfolk to travel to their nearest Covid-19 testing centre in Sheffield, a 300-mile round trip which would take more than five hours, the Eastern Daily Press, external reports

• Four more patients have died at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital in King's Lynn from Covid-19 bringing the total to 56, according to the Lynn News, external

• An eight-year-old boy from Oulton Broad has made his neighbours smile by hanging his hand-crafted wooden heart up on his driveway - emblazoned with the names of key workers and NHS staff, the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external reports

The East Anglian Air Ambulance, external (EAAA) would "welcome back with open arms" the Duke of Cambridge who was a pilot with the organisation for two years up to 2017.

The service is busy working with the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic transferring patients between hospitals and this is expected to increase to as many as 50 flights a day.. a big rise from its eight flights a day, external before the pandemic.

Image source, PA

In March, Prince William revealed to the national press that he would like to return to the service. He has a house at Anmer in Norfolk which is part of the Queen's Sandringham estate.

EAAA operations director Matthew Jones said: "Our capacity to help is limited by the number of crews we have.

"Whatever Prince William decides to do in this crisis is of course very welcome ... whether that's flying an air ambulance or supporting the NHS in other ways."

Emily Rash, 19, says it is "heartbreaking" the country is battling "two disasters at once".

Dudley Howe, 82, was hit in a blind spot of a lorry which did not have properly adjusted mirrors.

Dickie Hartt, 63, uses his daily walks to photograph the streets of Norwich.

Inspectors say care standards have risen at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Up to 170 extra beds will be opened in Norwich to treat the East of England's sickest patients.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The retirement of a long-serving director at one of the region's hospitals lasted little more than 24 hours, after she returned to work to support the team through the coronavirus pandemic.

Julia Hunt, director of nursing at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, had been due to step down after 32 years' service at the hospital.

Image source, James Paget Hospital

But after the start of the coronavirus pandemic she decided to return.

She has taken on the role of director of infection control while also providing support for her successor Paul Morris.

She told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I was very much looking forward to retirement but I just could not walk away from all of my colleagues and friends through this pandemic, hence the 24-hour retirement.

"Infection control always played a key part of my work as director of nursing but with the enormity of this pandemic this enables me to have much more of a focus on it."

Nurses and doctors clapped and cheered as the patient was taken through the hospital ward.

An emotional video has been released by the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.

It shows the reaction of staff when a patient recovers from Covid-19 and is able to leave.

Open Youth Trust ran projects for under-25s and hosted children's activities and live music.

A university for the arts has turned its hand to making face shields and wash sacks for the NHS.

Norwich University of the Arts, external (NUA), said it created 400 shields in a day, and hopes to increase the number to 1,000.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Neil Powell said: "We are delighted that NUA's 3D precision print and laser technologies, which are routinely used by students in the production of their creative work, can be retasked to help protect front line NHS staff."

Image source, NUA

Chloe Fuller, fashion technician, has so far made 50 wash sacks for medical scrubs, which staff to safely send their scrubs for high temperature cleaning at the end of each shift.

She wanted to help as her sister, Fay, is a nurse.

Image source, NUA

Police in Norfolk are warning about people going door to door, offering to do jobs like gardening and building work.

The force says it has received reports of a van collecting rubble from people's homes in Swaffham.

No evidence of illegal trade was found, but it said door to door selling is not "essential travel" and it should not be happening.

Image source, Norfolk Police