Summary

  • Another 5 people died in Northern Ireland with Covid-19 bringing the total to 299

  • The death toll in England, Scotland and Wales increased by 413 - the lowest increase in April

  • In the Republic of Ireland 26 more people died bringing the total there to 1,087

  • Church bells in Strabane rang out in memory of NHS nurse Pat McManus who died with Covid-19

  • Boris Johnson has returned to Downing Street following two weeks of recuperation from Covid-19

  1. 'Not where we want to be on PPE' - Raabpublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson while he was ill with coronavirus, admitted to Andrew Marr that "we are not where we would want to be on PPE".

    Raab said 78 NHS workers and 16 care workers had died from the virus and it had been challenging to obtain personal protective equipment.

    But the first secretary of state said the UK was now the "international buyer of choice" for PPE amid a global shortage.

    "No stone is being left unturned," he said, both in terms of domestic production and globally acquiring kit.

    PPE nurseImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Pupils may alternate days for schools to return' - Sturgeonpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says alternating the days of the week pupils attend school may be a way forward as lockdown measures are eased.

    "Arrangements like that may well be what we have to put in place," she told The Andrew Marr Show.

    "Let me be very clear it would not be right or safe to open schools right now and that may continue to be the case for some time to come."

    Nicola Sturgeon

    "It's a new normal that we're looking for where social distancing will be a fact of life for some time to come and different ways of operating will have to be contemplated."

  3. Coronavirus UK update: Sunday morningpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    The BBC has been compiling a daily list of the five things you need to know about the coronavirus oubtreak, and here's Sunday's offering:

    1. Military pop-up testing

    The military is to begin carrying out coronavirus tests in pop-up facilities.The mobile units will travel to "hard to reach" areas of the UK to test key workers.

    2. Care home staff struggling to get tests

    Care homes looking after thousands of vulnerable residents have said none of their staff have been tested for Covid-19.

    Hann familyImage source, Lesley Martin

    3. Father of 13 tests positive

    The Hanns from Dundee are known as one of Scotland's largest families. With 10 of their 13 children living at home, the lockdown has already brought its challenges for Roy and Emma Hann, then on Thursday they learned Roy, a nurse, had tested positive for Covid-19.

    4. Inseparable in sickness and in health

    When a couple in their 60s were brought to Bradford Royal Infirmary by ambulance within hours of one another, both were a cause for concern for staff. In the latest instalment of our doctor's diary, we hear how Michael and Mary Blessington were initially placed apart in hospital, but once they were given adjacent beds their health started to improve.

    5. Handfasting replaces weddings

    Some couples who have had to cancel or postpone weddings while in lockdown have opted to hold online handfasting ceremonies in their place.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Dorset celebrant hosts handfastings online

  4. 'Public inquiry is inevitable into government handling'published at 09:37 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Labour shadow cabinet minister Rachel Reeves says "it's inevitable there will be a public inquiry" into the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

    Rachel Reeves

    She told The Andrew Marr Show it would be required as there are "so many lessons to be learned as well as thinking about what sort of national recovery plan we need for the future."

  5. 'Extra challenging Ramadan' for NI's Muslim medicspublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Rebekah Logan
    BBC News NI

    "The whole purpose of Ramadan is to create and nurture good human beings, so what would be the purpose of fasting if we weren't offering our help?”

    Sajida Mushtaq has told BBC News NI that celebrating the religious festival this year will be “extra challenging”, however, she adds, “every Ramadan has been different”.

    DoctorImage source, Sajida Mushtaq

    "We celebrated it in school while sitting exams, we had it as first-time parents with a new baby, we had it while juggling working hours and hot summer days, and this year we will have it during a global pandemic.”

    Fasting, and particularly not drinking water, will be difficult, she explains, because the long-hours wearing personal protective equipment “can lead to dehydration”.

    Read more about Dr Mushtaq’s experience and that of other local Muslim doctors here, external.

  6. NI day-trippers not covered by Republic's regulations?published at 09:01 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Gardai in border areas have been told not to arrest people from Northern Ireland for suspected breaches of Covid-19 regulations, according to RTÉ.

    The broadcaster says there’s believed to be a gap in the Irish government’s legislation meaning police do not have enforcement powers over people living outside the Republic.

    Gardai

    The regulations refer to a restrictions around movement in regard to a person’s place of residence.

    More details here.

  7. Welcomepublished at 08:58 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Good morning and thank you for joining our live coverage.

    Today might not have the same bright and sunny forecast as Saturday, but relax, ease into your Sunday and we’ll bring you all you need to know.

    Man sunning himself on board a boat in Portavogie HarbourImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Portavogie Harbour in the sun - yesterday but there might be a bit of sun later today (fingers crossed)