Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry and Jeremy Deller help a Colchester gallery with home activities.

A "pop-up" logistics centre has been set up by Cambridge University so it can process donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be given to NHS staff.

Face masks, gloves and visors from Cambridge Labs are being redistributed along with equipment donated by university staff and past students.

Items have been donated by the university’s biology, zoology, pharmacology and chemistry departments, the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and the city’s science parks.

Image source, University of Cambridge

Professor Andy Neely, pro-vice chancellor for enterprise and business relations, said: "When our alumni and partners joined in it soon became clear we needed a more co-ordinated approach to make sure the right equipment was made available to local services.

"The infrastructure has now been set up to deal with all of the promised donations – some of which have already arrived - and we’re ready to go."

• Suffolk residents pay tribute to hard-working bin men working through virus pandemic, the East Anglian Daily Times reports, external
• The Ipswich Star, external has spoken to a couple who hosted 3,000 people in their virtual fancy dress party at home
• Markets across west Suffolk will be closed from today, the Bury Free Press, external has reported

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

A team of paramedics, doctors and pilots are "lacking" personal protective equipment (PPE), the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, external has said.

It is requesting donations of the following items to help its staff:

• Disposable FFP3 respirators face masks
• Fluid-resistant (Type IIR) surgical masks
• Coverall suits Cat 3 type 5/6
• Clinical aprons
• Surgical gloves
• Anti-fog glasses
• Anti-bacterial wipes/gel

Image source, Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Martin Bowdler, head of clinical service, said: "People in our communities still need our hospital-level critical care as, despite the pandemic, there are still those who will face life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

"That’s why it’s vital that our crew are protected from Covid-19 so they can continue delivering advanced medical care without spreading or contracting the virus."

Grandmother Joy is discharged from hospital after a 10-day battle with Covid-19 and pneumonia.

A woman is due to appear in court accused of repeatedly ignoring officers' requests to return home under new police powers brought in over the coronavirus crisis.

The woman, in her 40s, will be the first person in the county to be prosecuted since the policing measures were brought in on Thursday.

The force said a woman was asked to return home three times in Great Yarmouth on Monday, and will now be summonsed to attend magistrates' court.

Police have been given powers to fine people who are outside without "reasonable excuse" as part of the government's Covid-19 containment strategy.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey said: "Our communities are looking out for each other and listening to the government's message to stay at home, and I thank them for that."

Meanwhile, he also warned that anyone deliberately spitting or coughing on others would be dealt with "robustly".

Dr Habib Zaidi died in hospital in Southen last week, 24 hours after being taken ill.

Image source, Essex Police

People who are driving their vehicles to walk their dogs are being moved on by Essex Police.

Officers out patrolling Clacton seafront and Holland Haven Country Park said: "It is not essential travel to drive somewhere, park up and walk your dog.

"Government guidelines state you must walk your dog from your home address, you may not drive to the beach or country park to exercise or walk your dog.

"The more cars on the road, the more you visit petrol stations, use petrol pumps, the more likely you are to come into contact with a key worker, the quicker the virus spreads.

They added "change your habits, hopefully just for a short time".

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Schools across Suffolk will remain open during the Easter holidays for vulnerable pupils and children of key workers, the county council, external said.

Schools will have broken up by the end of this week.

The council has advised key workers who are able to keep their children at home to do so in order to lower the risk of spreading the virus.

A helpline has been set up for parents to call if their usual school is not open. Parents and guardians can call 01473 263985 on weekdays between 08:00 and 17:00.

Image source, Getty Images

Councillor Mary Evans, cabinet member for children’s services, said: "Once again I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone across the education sector.

"We are all working together to identify the best solutions for all pupils, especially the most vulnerable."

The NHS trust that runs the Cavell Centre in Peterborough and Fulbourn Hospital in Cambridge has said that it had taken "the difficult decision" to stop all people visiting patients, except in exceptional circumstances.

It said one family member or carer can still see a patient if they're their child or they're receiving end-of-life care, or if they arrange their visit in advance.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

Basildon Borough Council, external says it has found accommodation for every known rough sleeper in the town.

Leader of the council Gavin Callaghan said although some people refused offers or did not respond to calls, there was accommodation available for all.

Image source, Getty Images

"By this morning our staff had accommodated 16 of the 20 people sleeping rough who are known to us, and we are waiting to hear back from the other four in order to get them into the accommodation we have for them," he said.

"Basildon Council is taking unprecedented action to keep people healthy because our number one goal right now is to save as many people’s lives as possible."

The total death toll from Covid-19 at one hospital in Essex is up to 14.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker after a special constable was spat at in Northampton on Sunday.

Northamptonshire Police , externalsaid the man, of no fixed abode, was charged after an incident at the Criminal Justice Centre in Brackmills, where a man claiming to have COVID-19 spat at the officer.

He has been remanded into custody and is due to appear at Northampton Magistrates' Court on 9 June.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

Bedfordshire Police is warning about domestic abuse as people are urged to stay at home during the coronavirus crisis.

The force said, external it received 49 reports of domestic abuse over the weekend, including threats to kill, ABH and common assault.

Det Insp Lorraine Coombes said: "Staying home, or working from home, will bring many challenges.

"We all need to be aware how this will impact existing victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse, and those who may now find themselves in such a situation, due to the exceptional circumstances.

“You are our eyes and ears, please don’t keep your concerns to yourself.

“Chances are if something doesn’t feel right it isn’t, and we will continue to investigate and support throughout this pandemic situation.”

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

In these unprecedented times parents across the country are juggling home life with working from home.

For many it means trying to home-school, which from a personal perspective is far from easy.

As part of my nine-year-old daughter's homework she has been asked to write a news story.

So to kill two birds with one stone, here is her report, written from my makeshift office:

My school Castle Newnham in Bedford closed on Friday, 20 March.

We could not go to the theatre or play area at the weekend because you have to keep a distance and avoid big crowds.

When it comes to school time, it is really boring for me because I have no brothers and sisters and I have no-one to talk to.

All the online things such as Move Squad and PE Joe have kept me active and happy.

I am missing my friends quite a lot because when I see them I have to keep a two-metre distance.

• Essex Live, external shares the story of a Chelmsford couple who have offered a converted campervan to self-isolating NHS workers for free
• The Basildon Standard, external has spoken to a local councillor who said he has seen up to 20 people attempting to play golf on a closed course
• A family-run company based in Clacton is providing plastics to more than 20 companies making ventilators and developing vaccines, the Colchester Gazette reports, external

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

East Suffolk Council, external has suspended charges in all of its car parks.

The local authority said it was "to help support our local key workers and community volunteers during the COVID-19 outbreak".

Councillor Norman Brooks, cabinet member for transport, said: "As well as supporting our wider communities throughout this crisis, our priority must be to make life as simple as possible for the frontline key workers and volunteers and we hope that this small step can make a difference.

"Additionally, this move will enable us to redeploy some of our operational staff to other services which are currently in great demand."

Nikki Fox
BBC Look East

The number of people who have died from the coronavirus continues to rise the East.

Last night, Public Health England , externalannounced the statistics for the previous 24 hours at regional hospitals.

They are from Sunday evening to Monday evening.

• Colchester 3 more deaths
• Herts Community Trust 1
• Luton and Dunstable 4
• Mid Essex 3
• Norfolk and Norwich 1
• Northampton 3
• Princess Alexandra, Harlow 9

It brings the total number of deaths in the East region since the outbreak began to 100.

Image source, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Nick Hulme, chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, said: "We can confirm that sadly, three patients, one in their 90s and one in their 70s, both of whom had underlying health conditions, together with another patient in their early 80s who did not have underlying health conditions, have passed away at Colchester Hospital.

"They had tested positive for COVID-19.

"Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patients family and loved ones at this difficult time."

Matt Hancock thanks the public for cooperating with the government's "draconian measures".

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

The swabbing of staff to test them for the coronavirus has started at Northampton General Hospital., external

A drive-through station has been set up and hundreds of tests have already been carried out.

The priority is for staff who are are self-isolating, but who could return to work if they had a negative test, the hospital said.

It is only for staff members and not the public.

Image source, Northampton General Hospital

Swabbing for staff at both Kettering General Hospital, external and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, external is also due to start today.