Coronavirus live updates, March 30 2020: Six months before UK ‘returns to normal’

It could be six months before life in the UK returns to “normal”, according to England’s deputy chief medical officer.

The UK had to be “responsible” in its actions said Dr Jenny Harries, as the number of people in the UK to have died with coronavirus reached 1,228.

Scroll down for the latest updates.

6pm
Thanks for reading our live blog today. See you at 6.30am tomorrow.

5.56pm
In today’s latest news:

• Tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad will be flown home under a new arrangement between the government and airlines.
• The UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance says the UK is “tracking alongside France” and behind Italy in terms of deaths from coronavirus.
• The number of people who have died with the virus in the UK has reached 1,408.

5.35pm
People living in Bristol are being warned to be wary of potential scams and retailers hiking prices during the evolving coronavirus situation.

Bristol City Council’s Trading Standards team have received reports of people pretending to be from the British Red Cross, knocking on doors of older people and vulnerable residents attempting to take their money to do their shopping and not returning.

5.22pm
Baggator in Easton has set up a community kitchen.

5.01pm
20th Century Flicks have started offering triple-bill postal packs:

3.53pm
Learn yoga in self-isolation with Snapdragons Horfield:

2.39pm
Here’s an update from Bristol South MP Karin Smyth:

2.01pm
A view of quiet roads from the Great Western Air Ambulance. But which road is it?

1.35pm
The April issue of Bristol24/7 magazine has been distributed to shops still open across the city. Here are the places where you can find copies.

1.12pm
It’s squirrel monkey feeding time at Bristol Zoo.

12.17pm
Cabot Circus has announced that NHS workers will be able to use its car park for free.

All they have to do is register for a free space by visiting www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/nhs-parking and selecting Cabot Circus from the list of locations. Once they have submitted their car registration details and email address, they will be able to park for free from the following day.

The multi-storey car park at Cabot Circus is open 24 hours a day – photo: Martin Booth

12.13pm
St Paul’s Carnival is exploring ways to host a digital carnival this summer. Find out more and see how you can help here.

11.46am
Food continues to be needed by food banks across Bristol.

11.02am
A number of Bristol Bears Women players are also doctors. Here’s prop, Simi Hannah:

https://twitter.com/BristolBearsW/status/1244564052916961280

10.32am
Can you help the Jolly Hog team (who also own Pigsty in Wapping Wharf) deliver bacon sarnies to Southmead Hospital?

9.51am
Bristol Pound are hosting an online information and networking session for Bristol’s independent business owners. To join in, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/online-information-and-networking-session-tickets-101176652090.

9.17am
Temporary timetables have started on First Bus services today. Find more information here.

8.48am
It’s business as usual for the Bristol Waste business-as-usual crews.

8.07am
EasyJet has grounded its entire fleet of planes and said it cannot give a date for when they will restart. The budget airline operates many routes from Bristol Airport.

EasyJet has grounded its entire fleet of planes – photo: EasyJet

7.56am
A team of academics at UWE Bristol have paused their research projects to focus on producing thousands of litres of specialist cleaning fluid for frontline staff. Read more here.

7.29am
Bristol Cathedral choir’s back row have been multitracking again:

7.01am
Here’s something to look forward to later today. The Good Measure pub on Chandos Road in Redland is holding their usual Monday night pub quiz on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-MVpgUD7RW/

6.30am
Welcome to today’s live blog as the UK enters its first full week of lockdown.

Here are the latest updates:

• A Bristol bus driver has died after contracting coronavirus.
• A government rapid response unit is working with social media firms to remove fake news and harmful content about coronavirus “to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumours, which could cost lives”, said culture secretary Oliver Dowden.
• Some 20,000 former NHS staff have returned to work to help the fight against coronavirus.

Main photo by Martin Booth

Read more: Getting free school meals to children in the midst of coronavirus