• The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has risen to more than 8,000. A further 87 deaths were announced yesterday, bringing the total to 422, the largest day-on-day increase in the number of deaths since the outbreak began.
  • There have been 165 cases reported in the North-East and Yorkshire, with 42 in Newcastle, 13 in Sunderland, 14 in County Durham, three in Darlington, three in Hartlepool, three in Redcar and Cleveland, 12 in Stockton, six in South Tyneside, three in Gateshead, 10 in Northumbria, 24 in North Yorkshire and 10 in York.
  • People have been told to stay at home unless they are shopping for basic necessities, carrying out essential work, looking after a vulnerable person, giving blood, or taking exercise once a day. Under 18s of separated parents can visit both homes.
  • Yesterday, the Government sought to clarify its policy on workers. Those who cannot work from home, including key workers in the NHS and social care, should go to work "to keep the country running". All “non-essential” businesses should be closed.  Last night, health secretary Matt Hancock warned that enforcement action will be taken against businesses who remain open despite being ordered to close.
  • The Government has announced it is opening a temporary hospital in London next week, with the help of the military. The Nightingale hospital will be at the ExCel Centre, in east London, and will have two wards, each with space for up to 2,000 patients.
  • The Government also announced it is trying to recruit 250,000 volunteers to help vulnerable people across the UK. It is hoped they will be able to do things like shopping and delivering prescriptions for people.
  • Thousands of doctors, nurses, and other staff have returned to the NHS. So far, 2660 doctors, 6,147 nurses, 2,500 staff including pharmacists have responded to the Government’s request for people to return to the NHS. From next week, 5,500 final year medics and 18,700 final year nurses will also be on the frontline.
  • It is also trying to ramp up testing. It has 3,500,000 antibody tests which can be used by people to see if they have had the virus and are immune.