Coronavirus live updates: May 12 2020

The government is encouraging people to return to work if safe, with Bristol’s roads definitely busier so far this week than since the beginning of lockdown.

However, speaking at yesterday’s Downing Street daily briefing, Boris Johnson said a “sudden big flood” of people returning to work was not expected, describing the latest measures as “baby steps”.

Scroll down for today’s latest updates:

5.01pm
That’s the end of today’s live blog. See you tomorrow morning.

4.23pm
Here are today’s main 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.

3.12pm
Bristol-based microgifting app Huggg has been expanding its services during the coronavirus pandemic. The team made the app a way for people to access free school meal vouchers, when people could no longer send gifts using the app.

They have now 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.

The Huggg shopping ordering and delivery solution enables British Red Cross volunteers to get food and supplies for those who can’t rely on family or friends for assistance.

Photo: Huggg

It works by a family member, friend or individual can buy a digital supermarket voucher and filling out a shopping list online. An alert is then sent to the British Red Cross volunteer network. A volunteer will then do the shopping and deliver it to the person in a socially distanced, secure and cashless way.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the free Red Cross coronavirus support line on 0808 196 3651 to speak to a British Red Cross volunteer.

3.01pm
Bocabar will be opening its Paintworks restaurant for takeaways and collections from May 15.

2.31pm
If you’re bored in lockdown and have created an artistic masterpiece, email [email protected] with some information and you and your artwork. You could be featured as part of Bristol24/7’s Creative Lockdown series!

1.05pm
Chancellor Rishi Sunak extends job retention furlough scheme until end of October.

12.13pm
The team at Bristol24/7 are working around the clock to bring you all the latest coronavirus news in Bristol. Read some of our latest stories:

• Cycling 1,000 miles during Ramadan to raise money for charity
• Record drop in South West business activity
• Comedy night raises more than £35,000 for charity
• Showcasing the talent of LGBTQ+ talent of people of colour in Bristol and beyond during lockdown

Hassan Ahmed is cycling 1,000 miles to raise money during Ramadan. Photo: Hassan Ahmed

11.08am
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group is urging people to shine a light from their window at 8:30pm today to mark International Nurses Day and show appreciation for all that nurses are doing during the pandemic.

An image of Florence Nightingale and a message of thanks will be projected on to her place of work, St Thomas’s Hospital, from the Houses of Parliament.

It will also be projected onto the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian Federation of Nurses between 9pm and 11pm.

Rosi Shepherd, director of nursing and quality at Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG, says: “It’s important that we take opportunities like International Day of the Nurse to celebrate the contribution that nurses make to our communities and recognise the essential role our highly skilled nurses play in all health and care settings, especially during this particularly challenging time.”

10.36am
Today in International Nurses Day, recognising the vital work being done in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. May 12 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who founded modern nursing and pioneered infection control. 2020 has been declared International Year of the Nurse to mark the bicentenary of Florence’s birth.

10.01am
According to Public Health England, the current number of confirmed cases in Bristol is 672. The rates of coronavirus per 100,000 people is 145. This means for every 100,000 people in Bristol, 145 are predicted to have the virus.

This is referred to as the “r rate” by the Government, and the UK-wide “r rate” determines the five-tier lockdown level.

9.26am
Bristol has been named as one of the best places to visit virtually, perfect for some lockdown entertainment. Read the full story here.

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

Here is the latest news:

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to reveal the future of the government’s job retention scheme today, amid growing calls to extend it.
• On Sky News this morning, health secretary Matt Hancock said the reproduction rate of Covid-19 in the UK is “broadly in the middle of the range” of 0.5 to 0.9, insisting it is definitely below one.
• Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has said that Bristol could be a test city for a trial of electric scooters, which currently are not road legal.

Main photo by Martin Booth

Read more: The Bristol lockdown sound