• The Lowestoft Journal, external is reporting that Norwich has the third-lowest coronavirus death rate in the UK when ranked by local authority
• A 'hit man' threatening a Suffolk Pokémon group was among many social media crimes reported to police, according to the Ipswich Star, external
• And pressure group Extinction Rebellion backs calls to get Suffolk cycling after lockdown in the East Anglian Daily Times, external

The closure of two zoos has caused a charity a loss of about £1.5m.

The head of Adnams, external brewery says the company is ready to reopen its pubs, as soon as they get the nod from government.

His comments come as some retailers in England have expressed concerns they won't have enough business to make it profitable for them to reopen.

Last night, the government announced that most shops can welcome customers back on 15 June, while outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to trade again next Monday.

So far there are no reopening dates for restaurants, hairdressers and pubs, but Andy Wood, chief executive of Southwold-based Adnams, said the brewery's chain of about 45 pubs, external, has made preparations.

"We are putting in screens to shield staff. We're going cashless, introducing technology for ordering and paying, to welcome back our customers with open arms in a safe way," he said.

Mr Wood also appealed for clearer guidance on social distancing rules after the World Health Organisation stipulated a 1m separation rule compared to the UK's 2m specification.

A head teacher responsible for a cluster of Suffolk primary schools says staff are nervous about more pupils returning next week.

Image source, Getty Images

Maria Kemble, executive head of two catholic primary schools, external in Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, said: "They [pupils] won't be able to move around.

"The'll be given their spot and be expected to stay there, which for reception and pre-school children is completely different to how they would normally be learning and that's going to be really, really hard."

The Prime Minister confirmed plans for reception, year one and year six pupils to go back to school from 1 June.

Teaching unions have also expressed concerns about safety.

The book printers that produced the bestselling Harry Potter series is recruiting staff again after not taking on any new roles for the past two and a half months during lockdown.

Clays, external, based in Bungay in Suffolk, employs about 800 staff and is looking to take on 25 new people.

Paul Hulley, its chief executive, said: "Online book sites are trading very well and trade is above expectations."

Image source, Clays

The 29-year-old discovered she was having triplets just as the coronavirus outbreak reached the UK.

A theatre has received a "wonderful moral boost" after being awarded a £35k grant from the Arts Council of England, to help it survive the coronavirus crisis.

The Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, external, Suffolk, said: "This is a difficult time for regional theatres, and whilst this grant will likely not be the answer to all of our problems – it’s a really strong start.

"We will be back", it added.

Image source, Lowestoft Marina

Local Democracy Reporting Service

For those who want to get out and about this weekend without discomfort public toilets have been reopened in some Ipswich open areas following the coronavirus lockdown, the borough council , externalsaid.

The riverside skatepark has also been reopened with new signs displaying social distancing reminders.

Five of the council’s public toilets, at Major's Corner (pictured), Christchurch Park, Holywells Park, Lawn Cemetery and Millennium Cemetery will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 initially.

Disabled toilets will be open on a strict "one person in, one person out" basis. The council confirmed there would be sanitising for cubicles after each use.

A council spokesman said: "These are considered to be those which are used more frequently, where there are hand-washing basins, where we believe at this point in time there is a demand and where can supply resource to regularly sanitise them."

A woman who was initially arrested on suspicion of murder will face no further action.

The cause of the newborn girl's death also remains "undetermined", an inquest in Suffolk hears.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Some road layouts in Ipswich town centre could change under proposals to enable greater social distancing.

Image source, Geograph/Adrian Cable

Ipswich Borough Council, external is working with Ipswich Central, external business group, police and county council on a plan to begin opening up the town centre to more people from 1 June.

Currently the only stores open are those deemed essential.

Full details are due to be revealed on 29 May, but discussions are understood to include managing pedestrian flow and whether some narrow alleyways would need to close or be one-way only. How deliveries and rubbish collections are managed will also be considered.

Labour borough council leader David Ellesmere said: "Plans are under way to follow government guidance and reopen the town centre – when the time is right."

Promotion and relegation will remain in the English Football League if seasons are ended amid the coronavirus crisis.

People are being urged to stay off cliffs where tonnes of sand are falling every day.

The National Trust is opening several of its coast and countryside parks in the East of England this Bank Holiday weekend, but visitors must book a car parking space first.

Image source, Geograph/Christine Johnstone

Some venues, including Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, have already reached capacity.

On its website, external, the trust said: "For some of our larger car parks, we’ve introduced a booking system to help manage visitor numbers and maintain safe social distancing."

Other venues opening include Blickling Hall and Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk as well as Dunwich Heath and Beach in Suffolk.

Smaller, local car parks not require booking.

A woman has said a stretch of Suffolk beach needs to have more police patrols after an influx of visitors following the loosening of lockdown measures.

Tracey Cross, who lives close to Sizewell beach, said she spotted people not maintaining social distancing and lots of campervans and cars parked up.

"We do have the police down there once in a while - it doesn’t hurt them to know it’s going to be a busy weekend to be patrolling it a lot more," she said.

However, visitors who spoke to the BBC said the vast majority of people appeared to be observing social distancing guidelines, following the re-opening of a cafe and toilets.

• The BBC looks at the national picture from our Britain's coasts

League One and Two clubs could be placed under salary cap restrictions by new English Football League proposals.

Portsmouth say the difference in size between League One clubs makes it difficult to agree whether to continue or end their season.

MP Therese Coffey said people who have lost their jobs in the coronavirus crisis could find roles in the agricultural sector this summer.

Image source, PA Media

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK soared last month, the first full month of the coronavirus lockdown.

The Suffolk Coastal MP and Work and Pensions Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we should be prepared for the unemployment rate to increase significantly."

But, after insisting "there are a substantial number of vacancies already", she was pressed on where the vacant roles are.

"There's an aspect of retail," she said. "There are quite a lot of vacancies or employment wanted in our agricultural sector to help in our near future.

"Those very much need to be filled as well."

The Suffolk Coastal MP and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has been defending the government's policy on introducing testing for Covid-19.

Therese Coffey said anyone more than five years old who was showing symptoms could now get tested for the virus.

The government has made increased testing one of its five goals that must be met in order to leave lockdown. Its target is to test 200,000 people a day by the end of the month.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

A head teacher has told parents that he will not be opening his school to Foundation, Year One and Year Six pupils on 1 June.

Currently Woodbridge Primary in Suffolk is open to key workers' children, and head Mark Krisson said that would continue in his letter to parents, external.

Under government plans, children in Reception (Foundation), Year One and Year Six in England are being asked to return to school after the end-of-May half-term break.

Image source, Getty Images

Yesterday, Michael Gove insisted England's schools were safe to reopen, but acknowledged that "you can never eliminate risk".

Mr Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show the key was to make schools safe with smaller classes and staggered arrivals.

But Mr Krisson said he would only start a return to school once he had more information about four questions he set out in his letter including whether the school has "enough available staff" and if "children play a role in transmission to adults".

He went on to say he was "not completely ruling out a return to school before the end of this term".