Coronavirus live updates: April 30 2020

Marvin Rees says the Government is failing to keep pace with lost revenues for local authorities as Bristol faces an £82m blackhole.

The city has received £26.4m in two instalments from Westminster, but the mayor says this fails to even cover the additional costs brought about by the pandemic as he predicted it is likely to take years to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

5.28pm
That’s it for today’s live blog. See you again tomorrow morning.

4.40pm
Here are the day’s main developments:

• Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has called on Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, to underwrite the true costs of the pandemic. He says the Government is failing to keep pace with lost revenues for local authorities as Bristol faces an £82m blackhole.
• Council-run cemeteries have re-opened with limited hours.
• The Government failed to hit its target to test 100,000 per day by the end of April. Just 33,000 people were tested for Covid-19 in the latest 24-hour period – a record high for a single day – according to official figures.

3.39pm
Friska is now delivering in Bristol on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to postcodes BS1 to BS9, with a minimum order of £20. Read the full story here.

3.05pm
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has called on Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, to underwrite the true costs of the pandemic and recognise the value of public services in leading the frontline response.

Writing to chancellor, Rees highlighted the estimated £80m loss expected from the local authority’s commercial and regulated income during lockdown.

This longer term loss is in addition to the expected £29m cost of Bristol City Council’s response to Covid-19. Bristol has received a total of £26.5m from £3.2bn of Government funding allocated to councils nationally.

“We’ll continue to work hard to sustain this frontline response, but we’re mindful of the prominent role we could be playing in supporting the economic recovery, helping our communities and businesses get back on their feet.,” Rees says.

“Councils like Bristol cannot lead the local efforts with one arm tied behind their backs. The government package so far is wholly inadequate and disappointing given the commitment to provide councils with the resources required during this crisis.”

2.50pm
Boomtown, which runs Area 404 near Temple Meads, has announced that the 2020 Boomtown Fair, held near Winchester, will be postponed until August 2021. All 2020 tickets will remain valid.

Area 404 in Bristol. Photo: Soul Media

“Over the past few months we have been keeping a close eye on expert advice from within the UK and across the globe, as well as taking into consideration the timelines involved for safely planning and delivering the event,” says the team behing the festival.

“In addition, we’ve recently been in close consultation with our local partner agencies, and emergency services, to further understand the knock on effect of the current pressures on these vital services.

“This has led us to the decision that Boomtown 2020 can no longer go ahead.”

1.11pm
Bristol comedian Mark Watson is hosting a 24-hour comedy show tomorrow evening, via webcam. It will raise money for a selection of charities.

12.13pm
The small team of journalists at Bristol24/7 are working around the clock to bring you the latest information from around the city.Read some of our latest coronavirus stories below:

• Debunking the myth that coronavirus is ‘a great leveller’
• Bristol artist leads global illustration response to pandemic
• Belly Laughs At Home to raise money for four Bristol good causes
• Arts community raising money for charities during the coronavirus crisis

11.06am
The Invisible Circus is holding its first virtual show on Thursday, May 7 and need submissions.

10.59am
Bristol Libraries remind the city that it has a wide variety of services online for people to access at home, including eBooks which and eAudio books.

Library members can also read thousands of daily newspapers from around the world, as well as popular eMagazines, and eComics.

Library teams are also running online events, such as children’s story time, a virtual Lego club and a new podcast.

Find out more at www.bristol.gov.uk/libraries-archives and www.facebook.com/BristolLibraries

10.02am
Great Western Railway (GWR) have wished Captain Tom Moore a happy 100th birthday to the sound of train horns.

The company has recently announced it is naming a train in honour of the World War Two veteran, who has raised more than £29m for NHS Charities.

9.01am
Arnos Vale Cemetery will open part of its grounds to the public from today.

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

Here are the some of the latest updates:

• Cemeteries in Bristol are due to re-open today, but with limited hours, for people to visit the gravestones of loved ones.
• Marvin Rees says the Government is failing to keep pace with lost revenues for local authorities as Bristol faces an £82m blackhole.
• GWR bosses have revealed they are naming a train in honour of Captain Tom Moore.
• Police bosses have reassured the public they will not let criminals use this “unprecedented situation” to their advantage.

Main photo by Ellie Pipe

Read more: ‘Huge challenges’ for Bristol as council faces £82m financial hole