Matt Precey
BBC Look East

There were 63 more COVID-19 deaths announced by NHS England on Thursday for the east of England region.

Cases are listed by NHS Trust/Hospital.

• Luton and Dunstable: 12 more deaths - (total 23)
• Bedford: 11 (11)
• Milton Keynes Hospital: 9 (22)
• Princess Alexandra, Harlow: 5 (27)
• Lister, Stevenage: 4 (16)
• Essex Partnership Trust: 2 (4)
• Kettering: 4 (9)
• Southend: 3 (11)
• Norfolk & Norwich: 3 (13)
• Northampton: (11)
• Basildon: 2 (25)
• Queen Elizabeth, King’s Lynn: 2 (12)
• Peterborough/Hinchingbrooke, Huntingdon: 1 (10)
• Addenbrooke’s, Cambridge: 1 (6)
• James Paget, Gorleston: 1 (6)
• West Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds: 1 (5)

It's important to note these are the updated figures announced on a particular date and do not reflect when the death took place.

It brings the total number of deaths in the region to 227.

Total number of deaths across the UK stood at 2,921 according to Public Health England, external.

Kay Symonds' dressmaking business had slowed with the temporary ban on weddings and other gatherings.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Welcome to Friday’s resumption of regular updates where we'll bring you regional news and information about the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you for joining us.

We'll bring you the latest until 18:00.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk.

Just over 10,000 people were tested in the UK on Wednesday, as coronavirus deaths rose to 2,921.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Thank you for joining us today for our regular updates on the coronavirus pandemic in the East of England.

The team will be back on Friday morning at 08:00 to share more news with you from across the region.

See you then.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A county council has launched an appeal for businesses to donate any unused personal protective equipment (PPE) for critical frontline staff working in care homes, children's homes and other addresses.

Suffolk County Council needs:

• Fluid repellent face masks
• Nitrile non powdered disposable gloves
• Disposable aprons
• Disposable eye protection/splash goggles
• Sanitiser gel

The authority has been working with experts to source these materials from across the UK and globally.

Volunteers are packing and sending 4,000 PPE kits, which will be issued to teams this week. However, more are still needed.

Council leader Matthew Hicks, said: "We would be extremely grateful to any businesses who could provide us with these items which will help us to stop the spread of Covid-19 in our county."

Kierran Stevenson walked around a hospital without a medical reason, against government guidelines.

Applause from shoppers "made me feel special after a tough run of shifts", says David Tillyer.

Rob McGeechan hopes to fly home on Saturday, but is currently in a locked down Kansas City.

Four staff members at Norwich School have been making hundreds of face-shields for healthcare staff.

Jockey Frankie Dettori, who lives near Newmarket, has paid special thanks to NHS staff at West Suffolk Hospital, where he has worked with the My WiSH Charity.

He said: "Keep up the good work. I know it's a very terrible time."

The jockey has also been raising money for the Italian Red Cross, with his home country recording thousands of coronavirus deaths.

On his JustGiving Page , externalhe said: "Being here in the UK, it's difficult not to feel helpless as I see the impact the pandemic is having on the people of Italy."

His page has raised more than €6,000 (£5,262).

Image source, Endemol Shine UK

Royal Papworth Hospital has paid its respects to the comedian Eddie Large, who has died of coronavirus in hospital at the age of 78.

The TV star, real name Edward McGinnis, had a heart transplant at the renowned Cambridge unit in 2003.

He had been a regular visitor to the hospital for outpatient check-ups in the 17 years since, a spokesman said.

He also featured in a BBC documentary filmed at Royal Papworth, presented by Dr Giles Yeo, called How the NHS Changed Our World, where he was interviewed about his heart transplant in celebration of the NHS's 70th birthday.

"Our thoughts are with Mr McGinnis' wife Patsy, his family and friends," the spokesman said.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

In just over a week technicians at University of East Anglia, external in Norwich have made 1,200 litres of hand sanitiser, to support local councils and NHS hospitals.

This amounts to thousands of safe hand washes for people living and working in critical and sometimes clinically hazardous areas.

Image source, UEA

Chemistry labs at the University of East Anglia were quiet after teaching and research stopped, so Norfolk County Council, external and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, external asked staff to produce gel.

As production got under way, Prof Mark Searcey said: "All of the technicians, basically, who were normally in the science teaching building, jumped at the chance to actually make a contribution."

The university has appealed for businesses to come forward to help them produce the gel and supply ingredients.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

The RSPCA is appealing for help to name four kittens that were born 24 hours after the prime minister announced a lockdown.

Puma was rescued from a multi-cat household and gave birth with the help of foster carer and RSPCA animal welfare manager Chloe Shorten.

Image source, RSPCA

Staff at the Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk branch have gathered together a list of potential names and are asking people to vote for their favourite on their Facebook page, external.

The options are:

• Ash, Coal, Cinder, Ember
• Neve, Harry, Sarah and Edward
• Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, Niobe
• Cordelia, Viola, Tybalt and Mercutio

Image source, RSPCA

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A super-laboratory which will be used to analyse thousands of coronavirus tests has opened in Milton Keynes.

The National Biosample Centre, external, on an industrial area between Old Farm Park and Walton Park, is the biggest Covid-19 testing centre in the country.

Scientists will aim to test tens of thousands of swabs at the centre each week.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Some 2,921 people have died with coronavirus in UK hospitals, as PHE calls for more NHS staff testing.

A supermarket worker has told BBC Radio Norfolk that shoppers are making it hard for staff by ignoring social distancing guidelines.

Carol told presenter Chris Goreham she'd had to leave work early today because she "couldn't stick it anymore".

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Ben Hatton

Image source, PA Media

Vulnerable residents in Cambridgeshire are being urged to register for a government scheme to ensure they get support throughout the pandemic.

The leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, Steve Count, said anyone who has received a government letter - or who hasn't but still believes they are in the "high risk" category - should sign up.

"We are here to ensure that you get your food and your medicines," Mr Count said.

"Please do not unduly worry. You may already have support networks.

"If you haven't received a letter but you believe that you are in that high risk group, still register. It's important that we know who you are."

Register here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus, external - or call the government helpline on 0800 0288327.

Image source, Babraham Institute

The director of scientific research centre the Babraham Institute, external, Prof Michael Wakelam, has died with coronavirus, it has announced.

Prof Wakelam, external had headed the Cambridgeshire institute since 2007 and his "warm personality and care for others were reflected in his leadership", said a spokesperson.

They added he had a "dedication to scientific expertise" and created the conditions for others "to achieve their best".

Prof Wakelam, 64, died on Tuesday from respiratory complications arising from a suspected Covid-19 infection, leaving his wife Jane and sons Alex and Patrick.

The institute will open a book of remembrance for people to share their memories.

Most of the passenger stands at the UK's fourth busiest airport are full with aircraft.