Coronavirus: East of England live updates

Summary

All the latest from Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Northants and Suffolk
Deaths in BBC East region reach 1,963
Call for waste sites to reopen after fly-tipping in Norfolk
Primary school creates Lego film for NHS fundraiser Capt Tom
Northants nurse to run "London Marathon" on treadmill
Ex-England captain sends message to 99-year-old fundraiser

Live Reporting

Police thank 'mystery' person for donationpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Sarah Jenkins
BBC News
Thames Valley Police has thanked a "mystery member of the public" for their generous donation.
Officers in Wycombe received drinks and snacks and said the items would be "distributed to vulnerable members of our community".
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What the newspapers are sayingpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Here's how local papers in Northamptonshire are reporting the coronavirus pandemic:
- The Northamptonshire Telegraph, external reports that steel tubes made in Corby are to be used to build 500 hospital beds for patients suffering from Covid-19
- The Northampton Chronicle and Echo , externallooks at some of the independent businesses still open despite the national lockdown
Sheltered homes brought up to standard in seven dayspublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Patrick Byrne
BBC News Online
Sheltered housing condemned as unsuitable for habitation last year has been brought up to scratch in seven days.
East Suffolk Council, external transformed the property in Avenue Mansions in Lowestoft to help accommodate vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Image source, East Suffolk Council
Image caption,
Avenue Mansions is at the junction of Yarmouth Road and Royal Avenue
Eight flats were left empty because the water systems had been drained down, and the heating, electrical and fire detection systems had been decommissioned.
Richard Kerry, cabinet member for housing, said: "It was a huge challenge to get these flats to a standard where they could be brought back into use … and the seven-day turnaround is evidence of the effort that everyone involved put in to make it happen."
Cemeteries closed in St Albans and Harpendenpublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Katy Lewis
BBC News Online
Cemeteries in St Albans and Harpenden have been closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
St Albans City & District Council, external said burials at Hatfield Road and London Road in St Albans and Westfield Road in Harpenden can still take place, but only five mourners will be permitted, and they will be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
Image source, St Albans District Council
The closures follow government instructions and were not a local decision, the authority said.
Councillor Anthony Rowlands said: "I can understand that this will not be easy, and some people will be upset that they cannot visit the graves of loved ones.
"It is not a decision we wanted to take, nor one we take lightly. We will re-open all cemeteries to the public as soon as it is safe and legal to do so. In the meantime, we hope people will understand the reasons for this necessary action."
Milton Keynes company helps Nightingale Hospitalpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio
A Milton Keynes company has helped to kit out the new Nightingale Hospital in London's Docklands.
Image source, Getty Images
PPS, external, which specialises in personal protective equipment for handling potentially hazardous materials, has supplied the Excel Centre with isolation capsules.
Managing director Pam Parker said: "We're continuing to build for them... we're trying to concentrate obviously on the UK but we're still looking after Chile, Japan, the USA, Spain, Germany... the list goes on."
Prince Charles will officially open the new 4,000-bed NHS hospital today via video-link, as he continues his recovery from Covid-19.
Suffolk people defy virus to Make a Differencepublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Stuart Howells
BBC reporter
Covid-19 may be causing problems for everyone but people in Suffolk are pulling together to Make a Difference:
- Volunteer-led project Baby Basics Lowestoft, external aims to support new mothers and is appealing on Facebook for prams, also cots, bouncy chairs and microwave or cold water sterilisers
- Jane Palmer, new owner of the Oyster Inn and village store, external at Butley, is offering free meals to nursery and school children and vulnerable folk working with The Teapot Project and other community groups
Image source, Oyster Inn
- A support group in Coddenham has put flyers through every door of the village to try and help anybody that needs help - phone 01449 760429 or visit Coddenham Parish, external
- Bramford is going to be doing a daily "Dancing on the Doorstep" at 11:00 to David Bowie and Mick Jagger's version of Dancing In The Street... at safe distances
To set up a scheme to help people in your area contact Community Action Suffolk, external for advice on 01473 345400.
What the newspapers are saying?published at 10:47 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Here's how local newspapers in Cambridgeshire are reporting the coronavirus pandemic:
- The Cambridge News, external has tributes paid to a world-famous scientist killed after a 'suspected' coronavirus infection
- Peterborough residents made some noise to show their appreciation for the NHS and care workers last night, the Peterborough Telegraph, external reports
Fountain turns blue to honour NHSpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Katy Lewis
BBC News Online
People didn't just applaud to show appreciation for the NHS on Thursday evening.
In Welwyn Garden City, the Coronation Fountain turned blue.
Welwyn Hatfield Council, external said it was to "honour our NHS workers and all the other heroes out there taking care of us".
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School prints 3D face shieldspublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
A Northamptonshire school has been using its own ingenuity to make components for face shields.
The head of design technology at Bishop Stopford School, external in Kettering, Mr Sidgwick, has been using the school's 3D printer.
They would be sent to the NHS, via an online group, the school said.
Image source, Bishop Stopford School
Theatre performance suspension continuespublished at 09:57 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Katy Lewis
BBC News Online
All performances at Milton Keynes Theatre and the Aylesbury Waterside have been further suspended until 31 May due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Ambassador Theatre Group, external, which runs both venues and had previously stopped performances until the end of April, apologised for any inconvenience and said it would be contacting all ticket-holders next week to help them either exchange for a new performance of their choice or send them a credit voucher.
"We are processing a large number of bookings, so please bear with us during this busy period," a statement said.
Image source, Geograph/Mr Biz
'It was like having glass in my throat'published at 09:54 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he lost half a stone when he fell ill with Covid-19.
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Wellingborough fire station puts on a lights displaypublished at 09:52 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Firefighters in Northamptonshire show off their vehicles in support of NHS workers.
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Watford mayor hosts live Q & Apublished at 09:36 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Katy Lewis
BBC News Online
Calling all Watford residents - elected mayor Peter Taylor will be hosting another question and answer session on Facebook Live, external today at 14:00.
Anyone who has a question about the town's response to the coronavirus pandemic can leave comments on the Facebook page and also on his Twitter feed, external.
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Cereals Event goes onlinepublished at 09:33 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Image source, Cereals Event
The annual farming show The Cereals Event, external that was due to be held close to Duxford in Cambridgeshire is moving online.
The event, which is still taking place 10-11 June, will go virtual for the first time to support the industry during the coronavirus outbreak.
Organisers said: "We will endeavour to deliver working demonstration videos, seminar sessions and expert advice so that visitors and exhibitors can get as much as possible from the event and gain CPD [Continuing Professional Development] points as normal.
"We are certainly looking forward to brighter days."
Key workers applauded once againpublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Katy Lewis
BBC News Online
Media caption,
#ClapForOurCarers: People across the East of England pay tribute to key workers
People across the UK have taken part in a second "Clap for Carers" tribute, saluting NHS staff and other key workers dealing with coronavirus.
Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were among those honoured.
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'I'll stop at nothing to protect frontline staff'published at 08:37 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Matt Hancock says he'll make sure that NHS staff have the right equipment to be safe and do their jobs.
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Nurse in intensive care with coronaviruspublished at 08:37 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
The man has been intubated and is on a ventilator at Southend Hospital, according to sources at the site.
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COVID-19 cases rise in the eastpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Matt Precey
BBC Look East
The total number of recorded cases of COVID-19 stands at 2,661 for the East of England, according to figures released on Thursday - up 442 from Wednesday's figures.
- Essex 667 (+141)
- Herts 582 (+102)
- Bucks 339 (+27)
- Beds 286 (+54)
- Northants 220 (+33)
- Norfolk 207 (+27)
- Cambs 203 (+26)
- Suffolk 157 (+32)
A hundred hot meals delivered to paramedicspublished at 08:22 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
Alex Pope
BBC News Online
They say an army marches on its stomach, so a community group in Bedford has come forward to help feed staff working for the NHS.
Image source, SGRS Bedford
The Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, external in Bedford delievered 100 hot meals to members of the East of England Ambulance Service at its sites in Bedford and Kempston.
Image source, SGRSBedford
The religious group has said it will continue "every day throughout this difficult period, in order to help support those who are tirelessly working in our NHS".
"This is a small token of our appreciation", it said.
Image source, SGRSBedford
Players should take pay cut - Hancockpublished at 08:18 British Summer Time 3 April 2020
The "first thing" Premier League footballers can do is "take a pay cut and play their part" to help out during the coronavirus pandemic, says health secretary Matt Hancock.
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