News / coronavirus
Coronavirus live updates: April 23 2020
Lockdown measures have now been in place for a full month to combat the spread of coronavirus in the UK.
The first semi-virtual Prime Minister’s Questions has taken place and Bristol City Council’s cabinet is due to meet via Zoom next week, as institutions across the country are forced to adjust to a new normal.
Even Banksy’s Girl With a Pierced Eardrum is taking precautions against the coronavirus pandemic.
is needed now More than ever
Scroll down for the latest updates:
5.30pm
Thank you for joining us for today’s live blog. See you tomorrow at 9am.
5.22pm
In today’s latest developments:
- Key workers and their families can book Covid-19 tests from Friday, says health secretary Matt Hancock.
- 84 per cent of businesses in the South West likely to fold if the crisis continues for longer than six months
- People in some areas of Bristol could be eligible to volunteer to take part in a coronavirus vaccine trial.
- A new taskforce is being set up to drive the region’s economic recovery.
5.15pm
Key workers and their families can book Covid-19 tests from Friday, says health secretary Matt Hancock.
3.51pm
Bristol24/7 have posted lots of photosets recently. Have a read of these stories you want to see photos of Bristol during the coronavirus pandemic:
- 15 photos of Asda in Bedminster just before the lockdown
- 23 photos of lockdown in Bristol
- 13 photos of Bristol the last day before lockdown
- 16 photos of Bristol under lockdown

Photo: Simon Holliday
2.30pm
Actress Caroline Quentin records a message of support for St Peter’s Hospice.
https://twitter.com/stpetershospice/status/1253269982907072512
2.08pm
Easton-based boxing charity, Empire Fighting Chance, are holding a fitness session at 5pm
1.40pm
The team at Bristol24/7 are working hard to bring you all the latest news about the coronavirus. Read some of our latest stories to find out more:
- Sikh volunteers deliver meals to NHS staff
- 84 per cent of South West businesses unable to survive in coronavirus crisis lasts six months
- Bristol radio station releases compilation album raising money for NHS charity
12.36pm
Age UK Bristol has launched a coronavirus appeal to support their work during the pandemic.
11.58am
The number of coronavirus cases in Bristol is 496, according to Public Health England.
11.03am
Research by PureGym shows that Bristol is one of the fittest cities during the lockdown. Conducting the research by analysing recent Google search data from the UK for a range of home workout related terms, Bristol came out as third fittest, after Liverpool and Plymouth.
The research also shows Bristol as the most popular place for HIIT, the high intensity interval training workout, and yoga.
10.17am
The Room 13 Hareclive Covid-19 Appeal has been launched to get art packs to children at Hareclive E-Act Academy. Almost 70 per cent of children at the south Bristol school have free school meals, many have intermittent, or no, internet access and lots of the pupils live in flats with no outdoor space.
The appeal aims to raise £2,500 to cover the costs for 250 basic art packs at £10 each from the Scrapstore. Each pack will include different papers, pens, pencil, plastercine.
“This appeal will help cover our cost of getting basic art materials to the 250 most in need children, so they can express, imagine, explore, create and make real during this so hard time of lockdown,” say the appeal’s organisers. “Hareclive children – like all children – have innate talent and creativity. They are capable of so much. Creativity will help children to cope, hope and come through.”
Donate to the appeal at www.localgiving.org/appeal/Room13artpacks4children
9.18am
The University of Bristol is asking regnant women who live in and around Bristol are invited to take part in a Covid-19 study. The Pregnant in a Pandemic study aims to improve the social distancing guidance and support available to pregnant women during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“We are living in unprecedented times, which require mass behaviour change to reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19. Pregnant women have been listed by Public Health England as an ‘at risk’ group for serious illness from the disease and advise extra vigilance with social distancing restrictions compared to others,” says Dr Emma Anderson, who is leading the study.
“We currently do not know how easy it is for pregnant women to follow these restrictions, which is why we are running the study. Our findings will be shared with policymakers and could make a difference to other pregnant women within the current health crisis.”
The project aims to recruit up to 30 women between the ages of 18 and 50 years who are currently pregnant and living in Bristol and surrounding areas. The researchers would like to hear their views and experiences during the current pandemic in a one-off 30-minute telephone or video call interview. Participants will receive a £10 Amazon voucher for their time.
People can email [email protected] to get involved.
9am
Good morning and welcome to today’s live blog bringing you news from across Bristol.
In some of the latest news:
- People in some areas of Bristol could be eligible to volunteer to take part in a coronavirus vaccine trial.
- A new taskforce is being set up to drive the region’s economic recovery.
- The first semi-virtual Prime Minister’s Questions has taken place in Westminster (and beyond).
- Bristol Refugee Rights has launched a fundraising campaign to help with providing vital support.
- Six-year-old Frank Mills, who has spina bifida, has raised more than £150,000 for the NHS.
Main photo by Martin Booth
Read more: 16 photos of Bristol under lockdown