The Government is urging people to stay at home this weekend as the weather warms up as it was announced that four NHS staff have died within 24 hours after contracting Covid-19.

Two nurses in their 30s, Areema Nasreen and Aimee O'Rourke, who each had three children, have died alongside two healthcare assistants.

  • The Department of Health confirmed 684 more people have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total deaths in the UK to 3,605 as of 5pm on Thursday.
  • The Department of Health said, as of 9am on Friday, a total of 173,784 people have been tested for coronavirus, of which 38,168 tested positive. Public Health England said 11,764 tests were carried out on Thursday in England.
  • Research shows more cars are speeding since the start of lockdown, while more pedestrians and cyclists are using the roads as a result of being told to only exercise near their home.
  • Debenhams is expected to slide into administration in the coming days following the impact of coronavirus. It is understood that the department store chain, which runs 142 stores and employs around 22,000 workers, could file for administration as early as next week.
  • The Queen is to address the nation on Sunday delivering a message about the coronavirus outbreak, Buckingham Palace has said. Expectation has been growing about when the head of state would make a public statement about the unprecedented events that have seen the country go into lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • RAIL services between the North-East, North Yorkshire and London are set to be cancelled until further notice by the end of the week. Grand Central, which operates from Sunderland through to London King's Cross is expected to announce that services will stop on Friday.
  • Sunderland Airshow is cancelled this year due to coronavirus. It had been due to take place on the weekend of July 24-26.
  • A WOMAN who was fined £660 for breaking new coronaviruslockdown rules could have her conviction set aside after it emerged police misinterpreted the legislation.
  • For more information on how to protect yourself and others visit Public Health England by clicking here