4.18pm: Local elections postponed for a year

The local elections planned for May 7 have been postponed until 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Elections were due to take place for Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Stroud District Council.

Yesterday, the Electoral Commission said that polls should be delayed due to the coronavirus and the elections should take place in the autumn.

However, they will now be kicked back to 2021 along with the elections for the next term of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

"We will bring forward legislation to postpone local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections until May next year," a government spokeswoman told Sky News.

3.55pm: Hospital visiting restricted

 The NHS in Gloucestershire has announced that it is restricting visiting to hospitals as a precautionary step from tomorrow (Saturday, March 14, 2020).

Trust leaders say that the action is a responsible and proactive measure to take as part of Covid-19 preparedness.

The policy will apply to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital and seven community hospitals in the county - Cirencester, The Dilke (Cinderford), Lydney, North Cotswolds (Moreton-in-Marsh), Stroud, Tewkesbury and The Vale (Dursley).

Visiting hours at Cheltenham General Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and the Community Hospitals are restricted to 1pm - 6pm (7 days a week)

Those who should NOT visit the hospitals:

• People with a fever, cough, shortness of breath

• People with symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting (existing/permanent advice)

• Children and young people under the age of 16

• People over the age of 70 and/or with a long term health condition are advised to carefully consider their health and wellbeing and speak to ward staff before planning a visit.

Also:

• Only one visitor per patient per visit (maximum of two visitors a day). The Trusts are requesting that the visitor (single point of contact) shares information with other family and friends

• All visitors are asked to follow infection control advice from ward staff.

Trust leaders will monitor the policy closely and regularly review the restrictions. Patients and the public will be informed when restrictions are lifted.

Maternity wards and units

• Only one person will be able to accompany women in labour and we are asking that no other members of family or friends attend our units

• Partners only to visit on the Maternity Ward, Delivery Suite and our Birth Units

• No children or young people under 16 to visit

• All visitors are asked to follow infection control advice from ward staff

Children's Ward at GRH

Open visiting with the following restrictions:

• Only one visitor per child (maximum of two visitors per day)

• Visiting to children's wards is restricted to parents/ carers only

• No siblings or young people under the age of 16 should visit

• All visitors are asked to follow infection control advice from ward staff

Compassionate grounds

Exceptions may be made for relatives hoping to visit on compassionate grounds. These visitors are being asked to telephone the ward and speak to staff if they wish to visit outside the specified hours.

1pm: Professional football suspended and Cheltenham MP self isolates

Professional football fixtures across England have been suspended for three weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In a joint announcement made at 11am, the Premier League, English Football League and Women's Super League confirmed that all games had been postponed until April 3.

That means Cheltenham Town's game at Cambridge United tomorrow and Forest Green Rovers' home fixture with Northampton Town at The New Lawn will be rearranged.

In a statement, the EFL said: "This action, which will be kept under constant review, has been taken due to the increasing numbers of Clubs taking steps to isolate their players and staff because of the COVID-19 virus.

"The postponements include all matches in the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as all Academy and youth team fixtures.

"In addition, Clubs are being advised to suspend indefinitely all non-essential activities which include, but are not limited to, player appearances, training ground visits and fan meetings.

"Whilst the EFL Board has continued to take the advice and guidance offered by the Government and its health advisors, emerging developments mean now is the time to implement football's contingency plans in response to the crisis.

"This decision has not been taken lightly, but the EFL must prioritise the health and well-being of players, staff and supporters while also acknowledging the Government's national efforts in tackling this outbreak."

There are no Premiership Rugby fixtures this weekend due to it originally being scheduled to be the final week of the Six Nations.

The announcement this morning came despite the government refusing to place a ban on mass gatherings, such as sporting fixtures yesterday.

Other countries in Europe had already taken the step to postpone fixtures.

Elsewhere it has been revealed that Cheltenham's MP Alex Chalk is self-isolating after coming into contact with an "infected colleague last week."

Mr Chalk announced on facebook that he is staying in London and that the the move was a cautionary one.

He said: "Hi everyone. Following a conversation I had with an infected colleague last week, Public Health England have advised me (and one or two others I understand) to self-isolate for a few days.

"The advice is given out of an abundance of caution, but I of course accept it.

"So, I'll be staying up here in London instead of coming back to Cheltenham. Sorry I won't be able to make the concert in Bethesda Church over the weekend.

"I should say that I feel absolutely as right as rain, and will be able to carry on a great deal of my constituency and ministerial duties from here.

"My heartfelt thanks go out to the army of medics, particularly in Gloucestershire, for all that they are doing to tackle this outbreak."

Despite those moves the current official advice is not to avoid mass gatherings and to only self-isolate if showing symptoms of the virus.

Full information, can be found here