Coronavirus in London: As it happened

1. Updates on 2 April

Goodbye

BBC London

That's it for today's live page on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting London.

We'll be back at 08:00 on Friday with all the latest news, information and advice.

Have a good evening.

Church investigated over Covid-19 'protection' oil

Taxi firm to provide free rides for NHS staff

A taxi firm has launched a campaign to raise funds to provide free taxi rides for NHS staff travelling to and from work across the capital.

Addison Lee

Addison Lee's ‘Donate a Ride’ campaign saw it kick start the fundraising with a £50,000 contribution of its own.

This has doubled to £100,000 in little over 12 hours, the firm said.

The private hire company which serves mostly corporate customers is hoping its partners will also donate.

For members of the public who still want to contribute, Addison Lee has established a GoFundMe page.

Over the coming days, it will work with health trusts to distribute the donations and allow their workers to access the initial free rides.

Liam Griffin of Addison Lee, said: “At this crucial stage in the fight against coronavirus, it has never been more important to support our NHS heroes."

All rides will be within the M25, the firm said.

London streets eerily quiet during pandemic

Claire Timms

BBC London News

BBC London senior journalist Rebecca Williams took these photos while out for a brief spot of exercise during her lunch break today in central London.

Hard to believe it was lunchtime on a Thursday in the capital but since the government ordered workers to work from home, for shops to shut and for people to socially isolate this is our new reality.

Rebecca Williams

Rebecca Williams

Rebecca Williams

Rebecca Williams

Londoners cite 'shocking lack of testing' at Heathrow

Reuters

Londoners returning to the UK from abroad have lambasted the "shocking" lack of testing and medical advice upon arriving back on home soil following the coronavirus outbreak.

Some passengers said other countries appeared to be taking the Covid-19 pandemic much more seriously, with medical questionnaires and health checks at land borders and travel terminals.

Mete Coban, a 27-year-old charity pioneer and Hackney councillor, who returned to Heathrow Airport from the US on 16 March, said: "Considering just how seriously authorities were treating Covid-19 in the US, I was shocked at just how little the UK authorities seemed to care when arriving at Heathrow.

"I think it's completely irresponsible that we're not at least providing guidance to people about social distancing and giving medical advice."

Chloe Sloggett, a 24-year-old aesthetics practitioner from north London, said there were far more medical checks in place in Cambodia and Malaysia than upon her arrival in the UK.

Ms Sloggett, who arrived at Heathrow on Saturday with her fiance Toby Hastie, said: "As we walked through Heathrow there were posters to explain dos/don'ts and signs to keep two metres' distance, but no-one there was enforcing it.

"We had our temperature checked in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) twice and then again in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), but nothing when we landed in the UK."

The government said Boris Johnson had outlined strict new measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

It's the thought that counts

Health experts 'frustrated' by low UK virus tests

'Over 70 GOSH staff test positive for Covid-19'

Sarah Lee

BBC London

PA

More than 70 members of staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) have tested positive for Covid-19, it has been claimed.

Anthony Costello, a former director of the World Health Organization (WHO), tweeted that he had been sent an email detailing the outbreak at the children’s hospital in London.

The email stated 73 out of 181 members of staff had tested positive with the illness, while another 318 were off sick due to them or members of their family showing symptoms.

A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokesperson said: “We continue to monitor Covid-19 related staff absence carefully which currently equates to 6%of our workforce.

"We are able to fully staff all of the services we have planned to run at this time.”

The figures relate to a staff email sent out on 1 April.

There are more than 4,000 members of staff who deal with more than 268,000 patient appointments every year, according to the GOSH website.

Call for Londoners to post clips for commentary

Choir sings together virtually during outbreak

MP demands more tests after uncle dies of Covid-19 caught in hospital

The MP for Brent says she's "angry" and has called for more testing for Covid-19 after her uncle caught the virus while in hospital and died.

The criticism by Dawn Butler who is on Labour's frontbench comes after the government said they were "ramping up" testing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said testing was "massively increasing" and it was "the way through" the pandemic.

But cabinet minister Michael Gove claimed this was being hindered by a worldwide shortage of chemicals needed for the tests.

It meant the NHS - which employs 1.2m in England - could not screen all workers.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK is on the rise, with more than 29,000 now testing positive across the country.

At least 2,352 people confirmed to have had the the virus have died; over a third of those in London.

BBC Make a Difference campaign helps people in pandemic

BBC Make A Difference

The BBC's local radio stations have launched a phone-in service to help people feel less isolated during the coronavirus lockdown.

As part of its Make a Difference campaign, callers to BBC Radio London are sharing details of top tips and information about where people can find help and support from organisations and individuals in their area.

Caller Michael in Shoreditch was very anxious about leaving his house, so asked for help in getting some shopping. He only pops out for the essentials like bread and milk. He has also recently been bereaved after losing his long term partner and it was clear from conversations that he could do with some company as well.

The station found Father Gabriel at St. Monica’s Priory at Hoxton Square. Once it was established that Michael was in their parish, Father Gabriel organised a parishioner to assist Michael. He was extremely appreciative!

Chris Barclay is the Project Manager at Cherry Tree House in Brentford. He called about finding a volunteer to do some shopping for some of their vulnerable clients with physical and mental health issues.

Puja on the Hounslow Community Facebook page, responded and has done her first shopping trip for them and wants this to be a regular arrangement with them.

These are just two cases which show how the BBC's Make a Difference campaign has been helping people to help one another feel supported and less isolated.

If you need help, the number to call BBC Radio London is: 0800 731 2000

Or you can email and put "Make a Difference" into the subject title.

Don't post rainbow pictures to Nightingale, NHS says

By Zoe Kleinman

Technology reporter, BBC News

Company warns against flushing toilet roll 'alternatives'

Thames Water

Thames Water has warned people to stop flushing "alternatives" to toilet paper because large amounts of unflushable items have been blocking up sewage plant machinery.

Engineers at Beddington sewage works in Croydon have had to remove three large blockages from the inlet filter screens at the site in three weeks. The company said they usually would only be cleared every two to three months.

Thames Water believes perceived scarcity of toilet rolls due to bulk buying in the current coronavirus lockdown had meant some people had turned to "alternatives" which were now clogging up pipes and machinery and could lead to the creation of fatbergs.

Adrian Wallis, Beddington sewage works manager, said: “Wipes and things like kitchen roll if used instead of toilet paper can’t go down the loo.

"As nasty as it sounds, if people do use them as a last resort they need to put them in a bin and dispose of them safely.”

BBC to air memorable sporting highlights

BBC Sport

Getty Images

The London 2012 Olympics and Euro '96 are just some of the memorable moments that viewers on the BBC can relive this summer after the coronavirus pandemic decimated the sporting calendar.

The 2012 opening ceremony will air on BBC One in the spring, along with a number of highlights programmes showcasing the key moments from the Games, including Super Saturday.

With Euro 2020 postponed to 2021, the BBC will air some of football’s most memorable football matches in June and July - including the best of Euro '96.

July will also see some of Wimbledon’s greatest moments air once again, including Andy Murray’s maiden triumph at SW19 in 2013.

Graph show fall in traffic congestion in London

What's it like to have coronavirus?

BBC London

Jozef Wallis, 40, from London tells Jamie Moreland what he went through when he developed Covid-19 and what his recovery has been like.

Coronavirus death: NHS worker had 'flimsy apron'

Mayfair hotel opens its doors to NHS staff

Sarah Lee

BBC London

Anthony O'Neil

A five star Mayfair hotel has said it will provide refuge for dozens of London NHS workers who cannot live at home during the crisis.

Up to 40 doctors, nurses and other key staff from St Mary’s Hospital Paddington will move into the 208-year-old Claridge Hotel tomorrow.

They will be given free accommodation in bedrooms that usually start from around £650 a night, as well as breakfast and dinner.

Teams across the hotel group's three hotels Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, have been asked to volunteer to help.

Paddy McKillen, co-owner Maybourne Hotel Group, said :"We have already donated 1000’s of hotel amenities from soaps to toothbrushes to shampoos.

"Just as it has in the past world wars, Claridge’s has a duty to step up and support the people of London.

"Teams from all our hotels have volunteered, and we are honoured to help and support the dedicated NHS workers at this critical time. We are forever in their debt."

Reality Check

Coronavirus: More health myths to ignore

Lemon juice, mosquito bites and blood donations? BBC Reality Check's Chris Morris tackles more myths about coronavirus that are being shared online.

Coronavirus: More health myths to ignore