A drive-through swab testing facility has opened at the Norwich Research Park to test NHS frontline staff for coronavirus.

Scientists from across the park are joining forces with the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, external (NNUH) to help test for viral RNA, the material found in a virus that promotes its spread.

Frontline NHS staff in key roles, such as critical care workers, paramedics, emergency department staff, and primary care staff will be eligible for testing if they or a household contact develop symptoms of Covid-19.

It will mean staff can return to work more quickly by reducing isolation times.

Image source, NNUH

Sam Higginson, NNUH chief executive, said: "Quick and reliable testing is an essential part of the national effort to protect the NHS and save lives.

"The expectation is that staff in key clinical roles will be tested to support our staffing through the pandemic."

David Parfrey, executive chairman of Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, which runs the research park, said: "For most of us, this is the biggest crisis we have faced in living memory.

"The combination of expertise and commitment shown by our colleagues right across the Park has underlined just how vital a resource this is to the national picture."

Here's a quick look at what's making the newspaper front pages in Norfolk this morning:

• Norfolk and Norwich Hospital consultant Dr Deborah Easby has paid tribute to the "phenomenal efforts" of her colleagues on the frontline - describing wearing PPE like "sensory deprivation", she tells the Eastern Daily Press, external
• An NHS worker has slammed a used car dealer for selling a Mini with faults that mean she cannot drive it to work, reports the Norwich Evening News, external
• The James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston, has launched a "Letters of Love" campaign to patients in solitary lockdown, according to the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

A cardiac nurse has told how she was moved to tears by a video of her young children performing a song they had written for her and her hospital colleagues.

Laura Aitken works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and tweeted the video to colleagues to lift their spirits.

Alice, seven, and five-year-old Jack wrote new lyrics to A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman film, with their dad Chris, who accompanies them on guitar.

Signing off with the lyrics "All we want is to grow up and be like you", Mrs Aitken said her children "see me going to work and they see that it's difficult at the moment".

Emergency services were called to a fire at the property in Downham Market, Norfolk.

The hospital in Norwich is being divided between suspected coronavirus and non-coronavirus areas.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Police in Norwich have said there were "too many" reports of breaches of the coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday night.

Officers were called to a barbecue with more than 10 people in attendance, sunbathers in Chapelfield Park and people playing football in school grounds.

"Please #ProtecttheNHS and do your part," the force said in a tweet.

How online listening parties at home, with The Charlatans singer, became the new going out.

Martin and Kate Thacker, their daughters Shannon and Phoebe, two dogs and cat are living in a van.

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

A high school is trying to help to keep NHS staff safe on the frontline of the crisis.

Hethersett Academy's technology department has been using 3D printers to make protective face shields, following concerns about shortages.

Textile students at the school near Norwich have also joined in, making washable fabric bags to help hospital employees take their scrubs to and from work safely.

Kate Finlay, head of the design and technology department, said: "Before the schools closed, online there was a lot of talk about helping with personal protective equipment - a lot of other European countries have done it and they made the drawings available, so we’ve been using an approved face shield drawing."

Ms Finlay added there was information on Norfolk Scrubs Volunteers, external if anyone wanted to make scrubs or the bags which can then be picked up from makers’ homes.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The annual 10km Run Norwich, external race, postponed because of the coronavirus crisis, has been rescheduled to Sunday, 18 October.

Runners of all abilities and ages take part in what is hailed as "the largest and most critical" of the fundraising events run by Norwich City's Community Sports Foundation, external.

Image source, Run Norwich

"The money raised annually from Run Norwich helps us to continue our vital work in the community for people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged backgrounds," the foundation's website says.

"This work will become even more important in the coming months as our community relies on our support to bounce back during this difficult time.

"In addition, we have partnered with 12 other local causes, external this year to provide them with fundraising places in Run Norwich; each of these causes are under similar pressure to sustain their services for the groups that they support."

The race takes runners past some of the city’s most attractive landmarks, including Norwich Castle, The Forum, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich City Football Club, and many more.

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

The editor of a local newspaper has appealed for people to take out subscriptions or donate to keep it going as sales and advertising income plummets.

Image source, Stephen Richards/Geograph

David Powles said although the Eastern Daily Press, external has plenty of readers, things were "tough" due to businesses closing and cutting their advertising.

He paid tribute to about 60-70 of its journalists now working from home who have kept the paper coming out every day.

"We are more important than ever before - people still want the news, they want it more - so we had to work out a way how we could do that safely where none of us had to be in the office," he said.

"The big challenge has been around commercial and advertising… that’s been the area that has been pretty dire and we have seen a big drop.

"Still people are supporting us and they deserve our thanks and credit."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Technicians at the University of East Anglia in Norwich have been using materials from local brewers to produce hand sanitiser to help the NHS and local councils

Many distilleries have switched from making spirits, such as gin, to hand sanitiser and brewer BrewDog has also been making alcohol gel in its Aberdeenshire factory, external.

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

More than 400 people have been recruited to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in the wake of coronavirus, its medical director said.

Image source, NNUH

Prof Erika Denton said some of them had come out of retirement, while student doctors on the verge of qualifying have joined early.

Student nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists have also started working at the hospital ahead of schedule.

Prof Denton said the day procedure unit was being converted into an emergency department for those with confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

A new 10-bed isolation unit and 25 high-dependency beds were also being set up as part of a £9m extra NHS investment, she said.

She added the nearby private Spire hospital would be doing "much of our NHS elective surgical work" to ensure some operations still went ahead and to keep those patients totally isolated from any others with Covid-19.

The hospital currently has 85 coronavirus patients and a further 50 awaiting test results.

BBC Radio Norfolk has been answering your questions on the coronavirus outbreak.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

County lines drug-dealers are continuing to try to operate despite the coronavirus lockdown measures.

Norfolk Police reports several arrests of pushers as it tries to enforce the new "stay at home" rules for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

• In Music House Lane, Norwich on 25 March officers looking for a missing person found a large amount of class A drugs and mobile phones. Two boys, 16 and 17, along with a 62-year-old man were arrested
• On 26 March, police at Norwich railway station arrested a 17-year-old female from London on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs
• On 31 March, officers arrested four people at an address in Pockthorpe Gate, Norwich, on suspicion of Class A drugs offences after finding drugs, cash and mobile phones, leading to the arrest of two men from London and a local man and woman
• Also on 31 March, police want to an address in Great Yarmouth following concerns for the safety of an individual and found a 17-year-old from London area who fled, but was later arrested with the support of the police dog unit. He was charged with two counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply, assault and resisting arrest

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Sanford said: "We continue to adapt to the ever-evolving legislation and the challenges we face in response to coronavirus and we are still committed to frontline policing and protecting our communities from the crimes that matter the most."

People slept in tents, camper vans and in their living rooms in the Great British Camp-Out.

Watch as Cardiff City winger Josh Murphy delivers food packages to the elderly in his local community of Downham Market, Norfolk.

Healthcare assistant Emily Rash, 19, fears access to food and accommodation will become a problem.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A series of outdoor summer concerts that would have brought former Oasis mainman Noel Gallagher back to Suffolk has been called off.

Forestry England, external has cancelled Forest Live 2020, external at all its venues, including High Lodge Visitor Centre in Thetford Forest, because of coronavirus restrictions.

A spokesman said: “We really hope that everyone’s support to fight COVID-19 means the situation will have improved by the summer.

"As well as our valued customers, we work with a large number of volunteers, artists and contractors to make these concerts happen and have taken this decision in the interest of safety for everyone involved."

Ticket holders will be automatically refunded but Forestry England asked for everyone's "patience and understanding at this busy time".

These were the headline acts that had been due to appear the venue at Santon Downham in Suffolk:

• Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 18 June
• James Morrison and Will Young - 19 June
• Madness - 20 June
• Rag‘n’Bone Man - 21 June

Rag'n'Bone Man recently played a surprise gig in Gorleston in Norfolk as a favour for his dad.

People across the UK have taken part in a second Clap For Our Carers tribute, saluting NHS staff and other key workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.

Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were among those honoured by the nation with thousands across the East of England joining in the moment at 20:00 GMT on Thursday.

Households banged pots and pans, while others played the bagpipes to show their support.