Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

A simple, low-cost, but robust, ventilator to help critically-ill Covid-19 patients has been rapidly designed at Cranfield University, external in Bedfordshire and built in the US in a matter of days.

Image source, Cranfield University

The makeshift Bag Valve Mask (BVM) ventilator, which can serve two patients at once, can be manufactured at scale due to its flat-pack design, costing less than £75 ($100) per unit. Kits can be shipped and then reassembled where needed.

The Cranfield team said it sent an initial design to Georgia Tech, external, Atlanta, within five days of getting the brief and a small batch has already been assembled for testing.

Prof Leon Williams, from Cranfield, said: "We focused on creating something that can be mass-produced using water-jet or laser cutting, and modular in design to make it easy to assemble and switch out parts."

Associate Prof Shannon Yee, from Georgia Tech, said: "What’s unique is that we have two BVMs per ventilator, which allows two people to breathe with each device that is built."

The research team said the design should be available to manufacturers as quickly as possible.

Residents in Luton are surprised by the giant military transporter using their local airport.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The number of daily deaths rose in the BBC East region by 105 up to 17:00 on 6 April, according to figures released by Public Health England , externalon Tuesday afternoon.

The figures are broken down by NHS hospital trusts:

• Basildon and Thurrock - 6
• Cambridge University Hospitals (Addenbrooke's) - 2
• East and North Hertfordshire - 2
• East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester) - 8
• James Paget University Hospitals, Norfolk - 4
• Luton and Dunstable - 11
• Mid Essex Hospital Services - 16
• Milton Keynes University Hospital - 13
• Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals - 1
• North West Anglia - 3
• Northampton General Hospital - 4
• Southend University Hospital - 15
• Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow - 16
• West Hertfordshire Hospitals - 3
• West Suffolk NHS Trust - 1

The number of coronavirus hospital deaths in the UK rose to 6,159 on Tuesday - a record increase of 786 in a day, the Department of Health and Social Care said, external, compared with 439 on Monday.

It is part of the government's goal of achieving 100,000 tests each day by the end of April.

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

Trespassers have been warned to stop going on to a bird reserve during the lockdown.

RSPB Minsmere, external, on the Suffolk coast and home of BBC Springwatch for several years, has been closed until further notice.

However, the charity said people have been spotted on the 2,472 acre (1,000 hectare) site and urged them to "stay away to respect the reserve".

A "bored" motorist who went out for a drive ended up crashing his car, Essex Police said.

The collision prompted officers to warn people to heed the government's instruction to stay home during the lockdown.

They said the crash in Chelmsford on Tuesday had put unnecessary strain on emergency services, which were already busy.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Essex firefighters will be joining frontline NHS staff from today to support them in their efforts against the coronavirus pandemic.

The 10 retained firefighters, who are usually on-call at fire stations across the county, will begin work as ambulance drivers, alongside East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, external paramedics.

Image source, Essex Fire and Rescue Service

An agreement was reached last week for fire service personnel nationally to support the work of the NHS during the crisis.

Essex's chief fire officer Jo Turton said about 90 firefighters had come forward and she "could not be prouder".

"We’ll be proceeding with 10 firefighters, but there is potential to increase that and we are open to exploring different options around this," she said.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Firefighters in Bedfordshire have urged people not to light bonfires during the coronavirus lockdown.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews attended 12 bonfires on Sunday, two of which were serious. One spread to a house and the other involved a large amount of building materials which had been left unattended.

Image source, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

"Despite our guidance, people continue to light open fires, knowing the risks and damage to the environment. We urge you to please stop," a statement said.

"Please do not light bonfires, keep your families safe."

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Police in Norwich have said there were "too many" reports of breaches of the coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday night.

Officers were called to a barbecue with more than 10 people in attendance, sunbathers in Chapelfield Park and people playing football in school grounds.

"Please #ProtecttheNHS and do your part," the force said in a tweet.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

People in Luton, used to EasyJet and Wizz Air aircraft overhead, were astonished to see a giant C-17 military transporter in the skies on Tuesday evening.

The coronavirus lockdown has meant only a limited number of commercial flights at London Luton Airport, allowing it to help the RAF carry out a series of training test landings.

The airport said: "This giant C-17 transporter is not something you see at LLA every day! Proud to support the @RAFBrizeNorton in their training today."

It then went on to confirm that it was just one aircraft making multiple take off and landings in a planned exercise after questions were raised by people on social media.

The former Luton MP Gavin Shuker tweeted: "Either there’s a Royal Air Force C17 Globemaster doing touch-and-gos at Luton Airport, or we just stationed half the UK’s fleet in there this afternoon."

The airport responded: "You'll be pleased to hear it's the former!"

Martin and Kate Thacker, their daughters Shannon and Phoebe, two dogs and cat are living in a van.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Last night, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepared to spend a second night in intensive care receiving treatment for Covid-19, some of his supporters took part in a Clap for Boris.

They included the Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, Andrea Leadsom, and her family.

In a tweet, she said they were "clapping for Boris Johnson and all those who are in hospital - get well soon".

The PM is being kept in St Thomas' Hospital in London "for close monitoring", Downing Street said.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Police have thanked Debenhams at the Lakeside shopping centre for donating Easter eggs to frontline workers which the store couldn't sell due to it being closed.

Members of the Thurrock Community Policing Team distributed the eggs to fellow Essex officers as well as to fire and ambulance stations, bus drivers and Orsett and Basildon hospitals.

"We’d like to say a huge thank you to Debenhams for this extremely kind gesture, it put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces," a spokesman said.

Image source, Essex Police

A distillery producing hand sanitising gel instead of its usual spirits, is asking us to nominate vulnerable and isolated people so they can send the product to them for free.

Anthony Winterbourne, who runs Fenspirits, external in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, has been making the gel with colleagues since mid-March, selling it "at cost to the government".

He has sent out more than 4,500 free packs so far.

Image source, Fenspirits

Since they asked for nominations on social media, he said requests had come in from across the UK, as well as from a woman living in Australia whose parents were "vulnerable and alone in King's Lynn".

"There are so many people who tell us they need this product - it's heartbreaking - but we are trying to make a difference," said Mr Winterbourne.

Image source, Fenspirits

A daughter of a woman killed by coronavirus urges people to understand the severity of the illness.

How online listening parties at home, with The Charlatans singer, became the new going out.

Latest figures from Public Health England, external have confirmed 4,502 cases of Covid-19 in the BBC East region, with Essex the county with the highest total.

The actual number of people with the respiratory infection in the UK is estimated to be much higher though - as only those in hospital and some NHS staff are currently tested.

More than 600 people in the region have died with coronavirus as the current reported death toll in the UK rises to more than 6,000.

Find out how many people have confirmed cases in your area.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Welcome to our live page where we'll bring you regional updates about the coronavirus pandemic throughout the day. Thank you for joining us.

We'll bring you the latest news from the east of England until 18:00 BST.

If you have a story you wish to share this Wednesday - good or bad - please contact BBC News Online (East).

Reach us via Facebook, external, Instagram , externaland Twitter, external. Or email us.

Our regular updates are ending for the day.

Join us again on Wednesday when we resume at 08:00 to bring you all the latest news - good and bad - on the coronavirus pandemic in our communities.

The family of Anne Blythe make an emotional appeal after her death with coronavirus.