Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

For all those struggling with home schooling at the moment, take heart from the elected Liberal Democrat mayor of Watford - who looks like he's not had it easy either.

Peter Taylor said that, in comparison, being a council leader was "relatively straightforward".

And he says he used to be a teacher!

Essex County Council has announced a further £18.6m of funding to increase residential care capacity during the coronavirus pandemic.

The authority says the increase in beds will help free up urgently needed space within the NHS and local hospitals.

Councillor John Spence, the council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said the additional money would mean people with "social care-related needs are able to be cared for out of hospital".

The council also said, external it was taking steps to ensure "maximum flexibility" to secure care home beds, and was also exploring the use of other facilities.

Here's how Northamptonshire's newspapers are reporting on the coronavirus pandemic:

• Residents of a Northamptonshire caravan site who have nowhere else to live have now been told they are allowed to stay on site, reports the Northampton Chronicle and Echo., external
• The Chronicle, external also writes that Northampton Borough Council will launch a new brown bin subscription service in the town, despite calls to postpone due to coronavirus.
• Meanwhile, the Northants Telegraph, external says that only three stores are now left open at the Rushden Lakes shopping complex.

Visitors have been urged to stay away from the Chiltern Hills, after an "exceptionally high" number of people travelled to its beauty spots over the weekend.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, and new government restrictions introduced on Monday, the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB) posted on Facebook: "Please STAY AT HOME. The sooner we all do this the sooner we can enjoy our green spaces again."

The Chilterns AONB covers 324 miles from the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Bedford musician Tom Grennan has been putting his daily exercise allowance to good use.

The government's strict new curbs on life in the UK to tackle the spread of coronavirus include only leaving home to exercise once a day.

Grennan, whose hits include Found What I’ve Been Looking For and Something In The Water, said he used his "one bit of exercise" on Tuesday to "deliver essentials to Bedford food bank".

A woman being held at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire has tested positive for coronavirus, the Home Office, external has said.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

It confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday and said the woman had been placed in isolation at the facility after showing symptoms.

No other staff or detainees have tested positive for Covid-19, the department added.

Watford have offered their Vicarage Road stadium, which is located next to the town's hospital, to the NHS.

Indie-punk band Youth Killed It are among musicians finding ways to keep busy during the outbreak.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A new coronavirus testing facility has opened in Milton Keynes.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement at Tuesday evening's press conference as the government promised more testing is being carried out on patients suspected of having Covid-19.

University College London has provided 16 virus-detecting machines which are normally used to carry out research into cures for cancer, dementia and infectious diseases, and take just a few hours to detect the presence of a virus' ribonucleic acid from a saliva or swab sample.

Professor David Lomas said: "Critically we need to be able to test the thousands of frontline NHS staff, who are treating patients, and need to be self-isolating should they too be infected."

Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards picked up the machines, which are dotted across UCL’s London campus, and took them to the testing facility near Milton Keynes, the exact location of which has not been revealed.

Nathan Harper proposes to his shop worker girlfriend as retail stores are ordered to close.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Welcome to our live updates page where you can keep up with all the regional news on the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you for joining us.

We'll bring you all the latest developments and news from the East of England until 18:00 GMT.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

We're closing our regional live updates page for the day and will be back at 08:00 on Wednesday.

Thanks for joining us.

You can keep up with all the national and international news relating to the coronavirus pandemic on the BBC's main News index.

The government's advice, external for us is that we can go outside and exercise once a day, but only in the company of those we live with... and keep our distance from others.

Boris Johnson's advice during his TV address was that this could include a walk, run or cycle, but not team or contact sports which break the social distancing rules.

Image source, Frinton Golf Club

Golf courses across England announced they would all close from today, as even rounds of golf could bring people too close together.

It was out of the frying pan and into the fire for Frinton Golf Club in Essex, which had only just reopened after recent flooding (pictured).

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Norfolk Police is among many forces that have closed public inquiry offices where people answer bail, report crimes and find information.

The step has been taken in response to government advice, a police spokesman said.

Image source, Norfolk Police

Those who need to contact police can use a yellow phone on the outside of office buildings but Norfolk Police, external warns that in the interests of hygiene these should only be used in an emergency.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey said: "Public engagement is extremely important to us, our focus is firmly on front-line policing and those crimes which cause most harm.

"By changing our approach we are aiming to ensure we protect the most vulnerable at this complex and continually changing time."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

People wanting to volunteer to help people during the coronavirus pandemic can join a new service set up by Suffolk councils, police, health bodies and charities brought together as the Collaborative Communities Board.

The new service, called Home But Not Alone, is appealing to volunteers, charities, town and parish councils, community and religious groups who can all log their offers of support on an app.

Image source, Chrissie Geeson

People who need help can phone to request support and as offers and requests grow, they will be matched so help can be given where it's most needed.

This support could include delivering groceries, medication or essential household goods, while social distancing of course.

Chrissie Geeson, the board's chairwoman, said: "It has been incredibly heartening to have so many people volunteer to help others.

"In villages and towns across Suffolk, people have taken it upon themselves to mobilise a small army of volunteers."

The free app, called Tribe Volunteer, can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The telephone number for those in genuine need of help is freephone 0800 876 6926.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Some coroner's courts are responding to the coronavirus crisis with inquests in Northamptonshire, external suspended until September.

Coroner Anne Pember said: "In view of the present COVID-19 situation it is with regret that I need to inform you that all inquests listed between now and 1 September have been suspended until further notice."I will review the situation on 31 July."

All inquests due to be heard at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court until Monday, 27 April have been postponed and will be rescheduled.

In Cambridgeshire, the coroner and inquests website, external warns that "during these unprecedented times, hearings may change at short notice".

People are asked to check the website the evening before a hearing is scheduled, for the most up to date information.

Suffolk County Council said: “Due to the fast-changing situation in respect of COVID-19 the Coroner’s Service is closely monitoring the government advice and considering any impact this might have.

But no announcements have been made by the coroners in Bedfordshire, Essex, Norfolk or Hertfordshire.

Coronavirus travel restrictions have left a "labour shortage" of seasonal fruit and veg pickers

Jason Noble
Suffolk Local Democracy Reporter

Many GPs are asking patients to book appointments by telephone to allow them to discuss their condition before they are allowed into the surgery.

This is to prevent a medical contamination that might lead to the practice being closed or quarantined, said Dr Mark Shenton, chairman of the governing board at the NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group.

Image source, Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG

"Each practice can make their own decision, but what we do know is we can protect the workforce and the ability of a practice to be sustainable if we reduce face-to-face contact," he said.

"This is not about protecting individuals, it’s about protecting the whole service.”

Dr Shenton said questions would be asked when patients phone up for an appointment to determine who the best person is for them to speak to, and whether the nature of the complaint meant an in-surgery appointment was needed.

However, people were also being urged to give as much information as possible and not misrepresent their symptoms in an attempt to get a face-to-face appointment.

Here's how some of Cambridgeshire's newspapers are reporting on the coronavirus pandemic:

• Cambridge pub delivers meals to Addenbrooke's to thank them during coronavirus outbreak, writes the Cambridge News, external
• The Peterborough Telegraph, external reports that HMP Peterborough has closed to visitors to protect staff and inmates
• Meanwhile, the Cambridge Independent, external carries an A-Z of retailers, pubs and companies offering deliveries and new services in the county amid the pandemic

Gail Sanderson
BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton's two MPs have held a meeting, by phone, with Easyjet after being approached by a number of airline workers concerned at the current situation.

The Luton-based airline has cancelled the majority of flights.

Labour's Sarah Owen, for Luton North and Rachel Hopkins for Luton South, said they wanted firmer assurances over pay.

Image source, TF-Images

They said cabin staff receive a basic rate which is supplemented by a per-flight payment and want to know if staff will receive payment based on an average of the last six months.

They were told staff currently self-isolating are receiving full pay, and hope this will continue, they said.

The BBC has approached Easyjet for comment.