Coronavirus live updates: May 13 2020

Yesterday, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the Government’s job retention scheme would be extended until October. The announcement came as the Government encouraged people to return to work if safe.

Boris Johnson said a “sudden big flood” of people returning to work was not expected, describing the latest measures as “baby steps”, which has been further backed by Sunak’s extension of the job retention scheme.

Scroll down for updates:

5.30pm
That’s the end of today’s live blog. See you tomorrow morning.

5.22pm
Here’s a roundup of some of today’s news and updates:

• Major changes to walking and cycling infrastructure could be implemented within weeks as part of plans set to help build a “more inclusive, sustainable” future.
• The organisers of NASS say they are heartbroken to announce the annual festival won’t be taking place this year.
• A live stream of queues at recycling centres is one of the measures that could be implemented by Bristol City Council to manage an expected influx of visitors when facilities reopen on May 18.
• The organisers of Dot To Dot have confirmed the festival has been postponed just ten days before it was due to take place.

5.05pm
The organisers of Dot To Dot have confirmed the festival will be postponed just ten days before it was due to take place.

The multi-venue event hosted in Bristol, Manchester and Nottingham won’t be happening as scheduled on the weekend of May 23, but there are hopes it will still go ahead sometime this year.

Thanking ticket holders for their patience, the organisers said in a statement: “It is now clear that the festival cannot happen in May but we are endeavouring to make the festival happen in 2020 and look forward to announcing our plans to you all very soon, but in the meantime, we’re advising that you keep hold of your tickets for our 15th Birthday Dot To Dot.

“Please keep an eye on our social channels where we’ll post updates as soon as we have them, we’ll also contact all ticket holders via email to explain the options.”

They added: “Please rest assured that we’re working round the clock at D2DHQ (from home!) to find a solution that means we still get to celebrate the greatest new music with all of you.”

3.24pm
North Bristol Food Bank saw a 272 per cent increase in people using its services in April 2020 compared to the same period last year.

The charity, which supported 2,190 people with emergency food packages – 1,022 of whom were children – last month has thanked volunteers and supporters for their help during a time of crisis.

2.05pm
Don’t miss out:

1.42pm
A live stream of queues at recycling centres is one of the measures that could be implemented by Bristol City Council to manage an expected influx of visitors.

Facilities are due to reopen on May 18 following changes to the national lockdown rules.

Mayor Marvin Rees said the council is anticipating large numbers of people visiting recycling centres in Bristol, after sites in other areas experienced huge queues, adding that plans are being put in place to try and mitigate against this.

This is likely to include instructing drivers with odd or even car registration numbers visit on different days and running a live stream of queues at the facilities to enable residents to check before they travel.

“We do anticipate there will be a deluge of people so we will look at how we manage that,” said the mayor during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“We are asking people to minimise their trips but if they have to go, please be patient and please make sure you are going on the right day.”

12.48pm
The Clifton College community has joined forces to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic by making personal protective equipment (PPE) for key workers.

The project team has produced over 2,000 visors so far for care home workers, hospices, local pharmacies and GP surgeries and Caring in Bristol.

A team at Clifton College has produced over 2,000 visors for key workers. Photo courtesy of Clifton College

12pm
The organisers of NASS say they are heartbroken to announce the annual festival won’t be taking place this year.

Vision Nine, the team behind the celebration of music, street art, skate and BMX due to take place in Shepton Mallet, has confirmed it will return in July 2021, with all tickets automatically transferred to the new date.

The Streets will headline NASS 2021, with A.M.C feat Phantom, Andy C, Benny L, Bou, Crissy Criss, Holy Goof, Hybrid Minds, Jaykae, Kanine, Kings of the Rollers, SASASAS, Shy FX, Sika Studios and Fatty’s Yard also joining the bill and further acts to be announced.

The organisers said in a statement: “We’re heartbroken to announce that NASS will no longer take place this summer.

“We explored all options to run the show, but it is clear rescheduling to 2021 is our only option. The safety of our fans, the local community and everyone involved in NASS comes first.”

NASS will now take place on 8 – 11 July 2021.

NASS Festival will now take place in July 2021 – image courtesy of NASS

11.05am
Avon and Somerset police are supporting a new campaign that aims to help keep young people safe online during the coronavirus pandemic.

As children rely on using the internet to keep up with school work and maintain relationships with their peers, the force wants to remind parents and carers it can also be a dangerous place.

The #OnlineSafetyAtHome campaign hosts informative educational products for children of all ages that can be easily incorporated into homeschooling to help educate them on staying safe.

Detective chief inspector Larisa Hunt, lead for Operation Topaz, Avon and Somerset Police’s child sexual and internet exploitation team said: “Over recent years, we have seen a continued increase in online child abuse and exploitation and the fear is that during these unprecedented times, this will continue to rise.

“Our focus in Avon and Somerset is always on engaging with and supporting child victims of abuse and their families, as well as disrupting offenders. This is still our focus during the coronavirus pandemic and I want to reassure our communities that we are still here, working hard to keep young people safe.

“We need parents to help too. I know this might feel like yet another thing you have to do and that parents are already juggling many tasks. And whilst it’s tempting to let your children disappear off to their bedrooms on their screens, so that you can get on with some work, I would request that you please talk to your children about online safety. Know who they are engaging with online and make sure your children understand that people may not always be who they seem to be.

“There’s also never been a better time to review your parental controls on all of your household devices.”

DCI Hunt adds: “We really don’t want to alarm parents unduly. The online world is coming into its own at the moment, helping us to keep up with work, school, friends and family. There is no need to lock away your children’s screens or to scare them with stories about bad people.”

10.28am
Young people must be heard in the decisions that will affect them now and in the wake of the pandemic.

Creative Youth Network is hosting a virtual conference on May 28 to hear some of Bristol’s young people talking about their hopes and fears for the future.

https://twitter.com/Creative_Youth

9am
Plans are due to be announced today that will radically alter the way we walk, cycle and drive around Bristol.

Bristol24/7 understands that measures due to be revealed by mayor Marvin Rees include closing both Baldwin Street and Bristol Bridge to through-traffic.

There will be extensive pedestrianisation of the Old City, and widening pavements in some of the busiest shopping areas.

The dramatic changes are a direct response to the coronavirus pandemic and the continued need for social-distancing even after lockdown restrictions have been lifted. Read the full story here.

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

Here are some of the latest developments:

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak extends job retention furlough scheme until end of October.
• The “r rate” remains at between 0.5 and 0.9. The number of cases, on average, in Bristol is 145 per 100,000 people, according to Public Health England.
• Huggg have teamed up with the British Red Cross to support people who don’t have friends or family nearby to help them get the supplies they need.

Main photo: Lowie Trevena

Read more: Bristol named one of the best places in the world to visit virtually