Death rates are higher in poorer areas, statistics suggest
Government says it has met target of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests
Doubt over plans to reopen rubbish tips
Boots offers safe space for domestic abuse victims
Updates on Friday 1 May
Image source, Getty ImagesAnd that brings an end to our live updates from across England today.
Coronavirus coverage continues across the BBC News website and app, on social media, and across BBC radio and TV channels.
We will be back again tomorrow to bring you the latest about the pandemic.
Thanks for joining us, look after one another and stay safe this weekend.
Two doctors record video diaries to show what they’re going through.
Two doctors record video diaries to show what they’re going through.
Artist Bruce Munro has transformed a hill in Wiltshire into a mile-long “ribbon of light” using 120,000 old CDs in tribute to the NHS.
Image source, Serena MunroHe is the same artist who in 2013 transformed the same hill into a giant illuminated breast for a UK cancer charity and in 2009 created an “inland sea” in a field using 600,000 CDs.
“On the walk I do every day, I was looking at the fence and thought I could create something to raise people's spirits,” Mr Munro said.
Neil Heath
BBC News Online
About 1,000 volunteers have been making colourful new surgical scrubs for medical staff.
The group, called Derby For The Love of Scrubs, is led by Verity Ruane from Allestree, Derby, and has already provided the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust with 400 sets of scrubs in all sizes, colours and patterns.
Image source, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustMs Ruane said she has been blown away by the support from hundreds of volunteers.
She said: "When I set out, I thought that we might be lucky to get 20 sets of scrubs made, but now we have almost 1,000 members in our Facebook group with around 800 of those sewing."
Image source, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustThe scrubs donated range from Winnie the Pooh to Peppa Pig, which Ms Ruane hopes can bring a smile to staff's faces in difficult times.
Image source, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit
The government says there were 122,347 tests for Covid-19 in the 24 hours up to 9am today.
It had set itself the target of 100,000 a day by the end of April.
The figures it published at the daily briefing include not just the number of tests done in laboratories but also those "sent to individuals at home or to satellite testing locations".
Those figures don't tell us how many of those tests were actually used or returned.
Coronavirus: Luton and Dunstable Hospital nurse cheered after recovery
Nurse Leonora Burnell was cheered by her colleagues as she left Luton and Dunstable University Hospital after recovering from coronavirus.
Yvonne Millar, interim lead nurse at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where Mrs Burnell works, said: "It has been a difficult time and we've all been very worried, but we're so pleased Nora has recovered enough to go home. Our love and best wishes are with her."
Image source, Comic ReliefThe lockdown version of Foo Fighter’s Times Like These has replaced Colonel Tom Moore at the top of the UK charts.
The charity single, which features Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, Sigrid, Jess Glynne and Biffy Clyro, replaces the war veteran’s duet version of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball at the summit.
Proceeds from the sale of Times Like These will be split between Children In Need and Comic Relief to provide support to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus: The effects on the most vulnerable
Disabled people are "forgotten" by the government's coronavirus strategy, putting "lives at risk", charities say.
A cross-party group of MPs has written to the prime minister calling for a "disability-inclusive" response.
They say isolation, a lack of social care, and legislation that suspends rights to some council services could all "exacerbate" existing inequalities.
The government said it was "committed to supporting disabled people through every stage of this pandemic".
At the beginning of April, Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised 100,000 tests a day would be carried out by the end of the month.
And on the last day of April, the target was reached.
Saffron Cordery of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, had previously said the rationale for the UK needing to get to that particular figure wasn't "entirely clear".
So what are the tests for coronavirus, who are they for and how do they work?
Image source, Getty ImagesHancock began the briefing with news that fertility services will be restored now that the peak of the pandemic has been passed in the UK.
"Few families have been untouched by progress in the science... and I know how time sensitive and how important it is for families affected," he said.
Hancock: Testing will help UK 'unlock the lockdown'
In today’s media briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the UK carried out 122,000 coronavirus tests on the last day of April, passing the government's target.
Hancock said there needed to be an "audacious target" and thanked the teams involved, adding that the government was "now making real progress".
You can read more in the developing story here.
Image source, ReutersNHS officials have condemned the theft of a box of masks from an ambulance while paramedics treated a critically ill patient.
It happened on Friday in Mychett, Camberley, Surrey, the South East Coast Ambulance Service tweeted, external.
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Sam Francis
BBC News, London
London had the highest Covid-19 mortality rate of any region in England, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Of deaths registered up to 17 April, just under 86 in every 100,000 people were in the capital.
Newham had the highest rate of any local authority area in England and Wales with 144.3 deaths per 100,000 population followed by Brent, with a rate of 141.5 deaths per 100,000 population.
Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport
An England Test batsman and his club team-mates are trying to belt a musical hit for six to help the NHS.
Ben Duckett was joined by Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney and 11 other cricketers in singing Frontline by Julius Cowdrey.
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Their aim, while there is no cricket to be played during the pandemic, is to raise £2,000 for the Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
Nottinghamshire head coach Peter Moores was impressed by the community spirit of his players, but not their singing.
“I don’t think they’ll be giving up the day jobs, that’s for sure,” Moores told the club website.
Simon Jack
BBC Business Editor
The government will release a series of papers next week outlining its approach on how to safely and gradually restart the economy.
Image source, AFPAs efforts are made to slowly restart the UK economy, the government has consulted unions, large firms and business groups on seven areas:
However, there is no confirmed date yet for when such a restart will occur.
During the government's daily briefing we may well hear about the "five tests" for adjusting the lockdown.
These are the tests that have to be met for that to happen.
A cruise ship crew paid tribute to newly-promoted fundraising veteran Colonel Tom Moore for his 100th birthday on Thursday night during the Clap for Carers.
The Spirit of Discovery is not at sea at present due to lockdown and is berthed at Tilbury in Essex, Saga, external said.
Image source, Saga
Image source, Getty ImagesA temporary mortuary is being used to store dead bodies at a secret location in South Gloucestershire.
The site is already in use after the number of deaths locally overwhelmed storage capacity at funeral directors during the Covid-19 crisis.
South Gloucestershire Council said it was keeping the location secret due to fears people may visit and use drones to take photographs.
Stuck in a cabin for 21 hours a day for 32 days - that is the life that two cruise ship dancers have endured during lockdown on a ship off the Bahamas.
Image source, Lauren CarrickJoseph Harrison, of Hull, and Lauren Carrick, who live near Norwich, are among 950 crew unable to disembark.
“We’re not aliens. If the passenger have gone home, why can’t we?” Said Miss Carrick.
Image source, Getty ImagesNew analysis shows people living in more deprived areas are more likely to die from Covid-19.
Across the country, the highest rates of deaths have been in urban areas where lots of people live, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found. The overall mortality rate in London has been almost double that of the next highest region.
The data also shows the Covid-19 mortality rate in the most deprived areas of England has been higher among men, with 76.7 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 39.6 per 100,000 women.
