Coronavirus live updates, April 14 2020: Lockdown set to continue

Almost 40 people have died in hospitals across the Bristol area after contracting coronavirus.

Figures show that between April 4 and 11, a total of 36 patients died while being cared for at the University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the North Bristol NHS Trust.

Since the Covid-19 crisis first began, 89 people have lost their lives while being treated in one of our city’s hospitals, but this figure could be much higher with those dying outside hospital not yet included in the data.

Scroll down for all of today’s live updates:

5.20pm
Thank you for joining us today. See you again at 9am tomorrow.

5.01pm:
Here’s a summary of today’s latest news:

• Prime minister Boris Johnson continues to recuperate at Chequers after being discharged from hospital.
• From next week, Bristol City Council will hold public, political meetings via Zoom.
• In response to the public health emergency, Colston Hall is reopening its foyer from today on select days to allow extra blood donation sessions to take place.
• Bristol City Council will invest more than £9m into adult social care in the next three months to meet the increased demand placed on the service by the coronavirus pandemic.

4.45pm
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees updates the city via Twitter, and says that the council is writing to potentially isolated people who may not have access to the internet.He asks people who are leafletting to ensure they are safe while doing so.

Next week, the council will start holding political public meetings via Zoom. This includes full council and scrutiny.

He also highlights the support available for those suffering with domestic abuse in the home, saying “we are here with you”.

3.13pm
Age UK Bristol has launched a support hub to help older people through the pandemic.

2.32pm
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees will host a Q&A tomorrow on his Facebook page.

1.45pm
Bristol24/7’s small team of writers are working to bring you the latest coronavirus news from in and around the city. Read our recent articles, from supporting mothers in difficult circumstances, to Colston Hall opening up its space for blood donations, to a new EP featuring Bristol musicians and raising money for the NHS.

12.46pm
Community of Purpose, a charity focused on supporting communities that are seen as culturally, economically and geographically disadvantaged in Bristol and transforming the lives and futures of disadvantaged young people.

They have created a new programme, Board Games for Bored Kids, which aims to deliver compendiums of games to children in south Bristol. The charity has launched a fundraiser to raise money for the initiative.

Amy Kington, CEO of the organisation, said: “In Bristol, we have 13,500 kids on Free School Meals, which includes 70 per cent of children living in south Bristol.

“Community of Purpose and our partners already work hard to ensure they have food parcels and vouchers, so they’re not going hungry. But they are also very likely to be stuck at home with no access to a garden, to the internet or with any games to play. They may have nothing to do, nowhere to go and no-one to talk to.

“Having access to fun and educational activities is really important for their mental health and wellbeing, and to help get them through this crisis. We are working closely with the schools and charities in south Bristol to make sure the games get to those most in need.”

Community of Purpose work with local delivery partners to deliver a programme that helps provide young people with meaningful diversionary activities whilst also ensuring that they receive a free meal. Photo: Community of Purpose

The games will be given to the children identified by the local schools and charities as in most need, including those who are eligible for Free School Meals or don’t have access to garden space or educational materials.

12.16pm
Bristol City Council will invest more than £9m into adult social care in the next three months to meet the increased demand placed on the service by the coronavirus pandemic, using money from central government.

Councillor Helen Holland said: “This is crucial funding that will enable Bristol City Council to go some way to alleviate the pressure on vital frontline services that are providing care to some of the city’s most vulnerable people during this time of crisis.”

The additional funding will support:

• In partnership with NHS: funding the facilitation of rapid discharge from hospital within 1 hour when someone is medically fit for discharge, and resettling at home or in an appropriate care setting.
• Providing cover for frontline staff, including bringing in agency staff on an increased hourly wage if needed.
• Working closely with the independent sector including nursing homes and home support to ensure they have the capacity and resilience to deal with the extra pressures over the coming months.
• £750,000 of extra resources to some key organisations to support volunteers and existing capacity, to ensure people return home safely and well and are in receipt of appropriate care.

11.09am
Rising Arts Agency, which empowers Bristol’s underrepresented young people to fulfil their creative ambitions and to affect wider social change through the arts, have put together a map of local, independent businesses still trading. Check it out at www.rising.org.uk/stay-local

10.46am
NHS worker Aless Glover Williams is staying safe and is making sure Gromit is following the rules too.

https://twitter.com/alessglover/status/1249075529313144833

9.29am
The number of confirmed cases in Bristol now stands at 333, according to Public Health England.

8.45am
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday’s live blog.

Here is the latest news from Bristol and across the UK:

• 10 people are reported to have died in a single care home near Bristol. Read the full story here.
• Police said they kicked out “about 70 people” who were sunbathing or having picnics in Ashton Court on Saturday.
• Prime minister Boris Johnson continues to recuperate at Chequers after being discharged from hospital.

Main photo: Martin Booth

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