Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Wednesday morning.
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The Covid-19 heroes nobody talks about
Meet the ward boys, or hospital assistants, who are the unsung heroes in India's Covid-19 fight.
Top Stories
The Covid-19 heroes nobody talks about
Meet the ward boys, or hospital assistants, who are the unsung heroes in India's Covid-19 fight.
Why many are still shielding, with no end in sight
Thousands are still in unofficial lockdown because they don't feel safe going out, says BBC disability correspondent Nikki Fox.
Video 1 minute 54 seconds
Dealing with excessive facial hair during lockdown
People needing medically related treatments have had to treat themselves, and it's affecting every part of their life.
Video 3 minutes 9 seconds
'First Ebola, then Covid-19'
How Ebola prepared one doctor in the Democratic Republic of Congo to treat coronavirus.
Dating with cancer: 'A Hinge date saved my life'
Dating during lockdown is hard enough in 2020, but how do you deal with it when cancer is in the mix too?
How to stay cool in a face mask in the heat
Temperatures are forecast to top 30C in some parts of the UK this weekend. Perhaps it is not the time you want to be partially covering your face.
Video 1 minute 20 seconds
'New Zealand will get rid of the virus again'
The epidemiologist behind the country's elimination strategy says you have to plan for setbacks.
Featured Contents
The Covid-19 heroes nobody talks about
Meet the ward boys, or hospital assistants, who are the unsung heroes in India's Covid-19 fight.
Why many are still shielding, with no end in sight
Thousands are still in unofficial lockdown because they don't feel safe going out, says BBC disability correspondent Nikki Fox.
Video 1 minute 54 seconds
Dealing with excessive facial hair during lockdown
People needing medically related treatments have had to treat themselves, and it's affecting every part of their life.
Video 3 minutes 9 seconds
'First Ebola, then Covid-19'
How Ebola prepared one doctor in the Democratic Republic of Congo to treat coronavirus.
Dating with cancer: 'A Hinge date saved my life'
Dating during lockdown is hard enough in 2020, but how do you deal with it when cancer is in the mix too?
How to stay cool in a face mask in the heat
Temperatures are forecast to top 30C in some parts of the UK this weekend. Perhaps it is not the time you want to be partially covering your face.
Video 1 minute 20 seconds
'New Zealand will get rid of the virus again'
The epidemiologist behind the country's elimination strategy says you have to plan for setbacks.
Why many are still shielding, with no end in sight
Thousands are still in unofficial lockdown because they don't feel safe going out, says BBC disability correspondent Nikki Fox.
Video 1 minute 54 seconds
Dealing with excessive facial hair during lockdown
People needing medically related treatments have had to treat themselves, and it's affecting every part of their life.
Video 3 minutes 9 seconds
'First Ebola, then Covid-19'
How Ebola prepared one doctor in the Democratic Republic of Congo to treat coronavirus.
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Video caption: Therapy pony spreading Christmas cheer on city doorsteps 'I missed mum's funeral because I had Covid'
Brendon Williams
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Copyright: Kevin HughesImage caption: Kevin Hughes with his mother Margaret and wife Sally celebrating the couple's 40th wedding anniversary A Flintshire councillor has spoken of the day he missed his mother’s funeral after she died with Covid-19 - because he was also in hospital fighting the disease.
Kevin Hughes, 63, who represents the Gwernymynydd ward, spoke to BBC Wales from his bed in the critical care ward of Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
He said his mother, June Margaret Hughes, 89, had underlying health conditions and had been in a care home for 18 months.
She had been in hospital in Chester earlier this month, and was discharged back to the care home. A few days later she tested positive for Covid-19 and died in hospital days later.
Mr Hughes said: “I was called in on the Sunday evening because she was very, very anxious. There was no signs of any dementia, so she was very aware of what was happening. The hospital supplied me with all the necessary PPE. I went back in on the Tuesday, and I got there about a minute before she passed away on the Wednesday.
“The funeral was on the 10th of December, by which time I’d tested positive myself."
Copyright: Kevin HughesImage caption: Margaret Hughes at her care home in Chester with her "favourite carer" Karen He added: “Being in hospital on the day of my mother’s funeral was quite possibly the blackest day you could ever imagine. It was like being in a very, very long, dark tunnel.
"The amazing staff here commented that my eyes were just dull, they were lifeless. It was just an awful, awful day.”
Mr Hughes said he was now improving after being in critical care for a fortnight.
In a plea for people to take the disease seriously, he said: “I can’t say where I got Covid-19.
"It could’ve been at the hospital with mum. It could’ve been in a supermarket or a garage, but my message is ‘take it seriously.’
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Video caption: Coronavirus tier 4 restrictions: Portsmouth businesses react Businesses in Portsmouth have been reacting to the news they'll have to shut under new tier four restrictions.
