All visits to patients in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, have been stopped from today as frontline staff continue to tackle the coronavirus.

In a statement, the hospital said it had taken the "difficult decision" in order to "take all necessary precautions to protect our patients and staff".

The only exceptions are:

• A&E visitors - one person can accompany if absolutely necessary (eg child or someone needing a carer)
• Children: one parent allowed with a child at any one time
• Paediatric intensive care: one parent can visit for two hours in a designated time slot
• No partners may attend maternity appointments or scans, and birthing partners can only join during labour
• Carers of vulnerable patients will be restricted to one hour, at the discretion of the ward manager

Extra visitor restrictions, external are in place for intensive care units and patients receiving end of life care.

A buzzer system will operate for all visitors.

Anyone with a new, persistent cough or high temperature is asked not to visit hospital at all.

Coronavirus is the main focus of all news at the moment, and here's how it is being reported in the local press.

• Pupils from Sancton Wood School in Cambridge and pensioners have teamed up to operate a buddy system where they write letters, draw pictures, or even telephone each other during the coronavirus pandemic, reports the Cambridge News, external.
• Luton Today, external says that a Luton company is ramping up production of ventilators and is expected to make 5,000 within two weeks.
• The Herts Advertiser, external has tips on how to de-clutter your home while in self-isolation.
• MK Citizen, external has a breakdown of the number of cases of coronavirus in Milton Keynes.
• Ipswich Town Football Club could lose £500,000, external if the season is completed behind closed doors, says the Ipswich Star.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Extra deliveries of personal and protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, aprons, gloves, eye protection, gowns and hand sanitisers are being made to hospitals, GP practices and other healthcare providers in Northamptonshire.

Image source, Getty Images

Deliveries are now being made seven days a week and emergency processes are also in place to support organisations who urgently require further PPE.

Image source, Public Health Northamptonshire

Lucy Wightman (pictured), director of public health for Northamptonshire, said: "Personal and protective equipment is essential to ensuring that our frontline staff; doctors, nurses and carers can protect themselves from contracting the virus.

"It is of paramount importance that we protect our workforce."

BBC Look East

While the coronavirus lockdown may feel claustrophobic to some, it has inspired others.

Peter Dean of Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire has sent in this poem.

A country tale

A couple of sparrowsFeed on sunflower heartsOblivious to the situation

An old man smokes his roll- upsAnd sips his pintOblivious to the situation

All is quiet in lock-down.No-one around bar the birdsAnd the old man.

The virus has passed them by.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter said: "My poem is about calm and peace and reflection. I think this is something we all need to do now we are isolated."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The Conservative MP for Northampton North said he "expects" Parliament to return after its extended Easter recess.

Michael Ellis, who is also the solicitor general, said MPs would be working during the break.

Parliament has shut down until 21 April at the earliest to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Ellis said: "The hope is and the exception is we will return on the 21st.

"In the meantime, MPs will be doing what they can to help in their constituencies."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The Country Land and Business Association has warned of staff shortages in the farming sector across the East of England due to coronavirus.

If farmers could not find the workers they needed, it could lead to a shortage of fruit and vegetables, it said.

Image source, PA Media

Cath Crowther from the association said: "There are staff shortages because of travel restrictions and illness which could impact on fruit and vegetable supply going forward."

She also said that those farms that had diversified into leisure and tourism were also suffering, and that those with cafes were trying to "redirect" their supplies.

Here's how some of the newspapers in our region have been reporting the coronavirus pandemic...

• The Northampton Chronicle, external reports that a Northampton banking campus has faced scrutiny from employees who believe they could work from home but are not being allowed to so.
• Tenants and owners have remained defiant after being told to leave their caravans from holiday parks across Essex, reports the Essex Chronicle, external.
• The Eastern Daily Press, external has a story on Amazona Zoo in Cromer calling on closed restaurants, café and hotel owners to donate fruit and vegetables to help feed its animals.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

The way people can visit loved ones is changing at most hospitals.

East Suffolk and North East Essex Foundation Trust has said that visiting has been suspended at Colchester, Ipswich, Aldeburgh and Felixstowe hospitals, and at Bluebird Lodge in Ipswich.

Chief executive Nick Hulme said you could only visit if seeing someone receiving end-of-life care; you are a birthing partner or a parent or appropriate adult visiting your child.

Image source, East Suffolk and North East Essex Foundation Trust

“Our primary concern is to keep our patients and our staff safe," he said.

"Thank to you everyone in our communities for their continuing support at this very difficult time."

Holly King-Mand has gathered thousands of followers after starting her Facebook lessons on Monday.

Dr Nick Harpur says he is desperate to return to help frontline NHS colleagues.

Everyone's lives have changed just recently, but when you're an athlete working towards the goal of yet another gold in the Olympics it can be especially hard.

Hemel Hempstead's very own Max Whitlock has been talking to BBC Breakfast about the impact the postponement of the Tokyo games has had on him and how his training in Essex has had to change.

Charges for parking on-street and in council-owned car parks have been suspended by Luton Borough Council., external

It said it was to "assist key workers to get to their places of work with greater ease and to ensure hassle-free parking for all those amazing volunteers helping people who are self-isolating and in need of assistance."

Time limits would continue for on-street parking bays, it said.

The new system will be "initially" in place for three weeks.

East of England Ambulance NHS Trust has praised on Twitter, external the "incredible" work its staff and volunteers are doing across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

The trust said it wanted to "dedicate #ThankYouThursday, external" to all those "working incredibly hard around the clock to make sure that our patients remain safe and get help when they need it the most. We couldn't be prouder to call you #TeamEEAST, external."

Image source, East of England Ambulance Service

The registrations of births has been delayed in Essex because of the current pandemic.

The county council said the action has been taken to "keep people safe" and that new parents could make a claim for child benefit before the birth was registered.

It is asking anyone who has booked an appointment to get in touch via its website, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

A free-range egg farmer has seen a four-fold rise in sales to neighbours during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Rob Norman

Robert Norman, who has 32,000 hens at the Norman Farming Partnership in Hickling, Norfolk, produces eggs mainly for Tesco.

"It is great to see people buying from local producers. It is extremely worrying what is happening, but one positive thing is that people do seem to be embracing their local suppliers," he said.

"The nature of farming is that farmers are usually self-isolating anyway. We are following necessary precautions here and everybody is pulling together."

Coronavirus is having a "fundamental impact on all of our lives" says the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, John Campbell.

In a specially recorded message, external, he is urging people to follow the government's advice and to stay inside.

"We will continue our day-to-day policing duties, working with our communities to ensure we are all complying with this essential government direction," he said.

“However, if the public do not take the advice we will look to use the new police powers in order to safeguard everyone. We are expecting legislation and further government guidance on this shortly.

Image source, Thames Valley Police

“We have strong, well-tested contingency plans in place to deal with all possibilities, and we will continue to serve the public during this exceptionally challenging time."

Alex Pope
BBC News

A second patient has died after testing positive for Covid-19 at West Suffolk Hospital, external in Bury St Edmunds.

Nick Jenkins, medical director for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We can confirm that, sadly, two patients in their 70s with underlying health conditions have passed away at West Suffolk Hospital.

"They had tested positive for Covid-19.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with these patients’ family and loved ones at this difficult time.”

The hospital said the second death happened on Wednesday.

Image source, West Suffolk Hospital

So far 480 people have tested positive for the virus in the NHS East of England area, according to Public Health England, external.

There have been a further 43 cases in Northamptonshire and 59 in the Buckinghamshire County Council area, which come under Midlands and South East respectively.

One of the main messages from the government is that, despite coronavirus movement restrictions, you can still get out for some once-daily exercise.

The Forest of Marston Vale, external has said it is "still encouraging" this so its woodlands are being kept open.

It have closed the patio, play and picnic areas as well as the bird hides, however, and still wants everyone to abide by the 2m (6ft 6in) rule.

Image source, Forest of Marston Vale

Food banks across Suffolk re to receive a share of £60,000 to ensure they're stocked with much-needed supplies.

This money, donated by Suffolk County Council, external, will let them restock directly with the supermarkets and wholesalers, the council said.

Paul West, cabinet member for communities, said: "It is now more important than ever to look after those most in need in our neighbourhoods."

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Bedfordshire Police wants the message to "stay inside, stay safe and wash your hands" to be spread far and wide so it's sent a special message in different languages.