Here are the key coronavirus updates from the last 24-hours. 

  • The North-East is to get its own Nightingale hospital to care for coronavirus patients. The facility, which was confirmed yesterday, will be at the new Innovation Centre, close to Sunderland’s Nissan plant.
  • Yesterday, the deaths of a further 980 people was announced – the worst daily figure yet ­– taking the total to 8,958. In the North-East and North Yorkshire a further 51 deaths were confirmed by health trusts. 
  • Ministers have said tests for coronavirus had reached more than 19,000 a day. The Government has a target of carrying out 100,000 by the end of the month. Last night, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said  19,116 coronavirus tests were carried out across Great Britain on Thursday, of which 5,706 came back positive. He said the number of people in hospital who have tested positive for the disease stood at 19,304.
  • A care home in County Durham has announced a further two deaths  following an outbreak of coronavirus. Six residents at Stanley Park Care Home have now died as result of the outbreak.
  • Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam says the epidemic remains in a “dangerous phase” and said it was premature to say the outbreak has reached its peak. He said: "The push we are making with social distancing just has to continue."
  • People are still being urged to remain at home for Easter. People have been told they should not visit family over the bank holiday weekend and are being urged not to attend public gatherings at parks and beaches. 
  • Boris Johnson’s health is said to be improving. A Downing Street spokesperson said he had been able to take “short walks” between rests after being discharged from intensive care on Thursday.
  • Health secretary Matt Hancock has sought to reassure health and social care staff that efforts are being made to get personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. He has urged British manufacturers to fill the gap and start producing the equipment needed. He also told journalists last night that there was enough – but urged health workers to treat it as a “precious resource”.