The coronavirus pandemic does not end when you can leave your house or when scientists develop a vaccine. It ends when we have recovered. And as with any destructive hurricane, tornado, earthquake, oil spill, or terrorist attack, a recovery from this pandemic will happen.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
All wrapped up - Amazon reveals top 10 Christmas toys for 2018
From interactive robots to unicorns that poo glittery slime, Amazon has unveiled its list of top 10 Christmas toys for 2018.
The retailer says everything from Paw Patrol trucks and Harry Potter Lego to Strictly Come Dancing board games and everything unicorns are set to make 'this Christmas the most magical yet'.
Amazon claims these will be the must-have gadgets and games that will be talked about in the playground.
Many of this year's top toys are between £40 and £85, with the most expensive item on the list being the £84.99 L.O.L Surprise! Bigger Surprise! toy.
But there are some cheaper options too with the Little Live Pets Una Wrapples Toy priced at £16.99.
Here's Amazon's Christmas top 10:
Paw Patrol — Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck
Price - £64.93
Marshall's Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck is here to save the day. With a 2ft ladder, mini fire cart, light and sounds, the fire truck is ready for action-packed missions. The truck is £64.93 and is currently in stock. It comes with free delivery.
Boxer — Interactive AI Robot Toy (Black)
Price - £79.99
For ages six plus, Boxer promises to be 'the small robot who delivers big fun'.
The bot comes with 10 game cards and expresses a full range of emotions.
Kids can use the 10 activity cards to play games like Bot Bowling, Paddle Bot or Go Kart with Boxer. Unlock even more games by downloading the Boxer app to your phone.
Barbie FRM19 Careers Care Clinic Ambulance
Price - 37.49
Barbie remains a big draw for youngsters and now aspiring doctors can role-play diagnosing and treating patients with this ambulance set.
The care clinic is both an ambulance vehicle and hospital playset in one with more than 20 pieces.
Nerf E2281EU4 Laser Ops Pro Alphapoint, Pack of 2
Price - £44.78
90s favourites Nerf have stepped up a gear with the laser set, complete with light and sound effects.
It comes as a pack of two, with unlimited ammo and quick-reload button. Kids can customise the blaster, track performance and detect enemies.
Poopsie Slime Surprise Unicorn , Pink Or Rainbow
Price - £49.99
One of the strangest items on the list, the Poopsie Slime Surprise includes 10 magical surprises. The unicorn food is the slime powder so that little ones can make their own unicorn poop.
It comes with a collectible bottle and a poop character keychain.
Strictly Come Dancing Board Game
Price - £28.88
The popular TV show can be brought to life in your living room with trivia questions, challenges and mini dance-offs.
Players try to win as many votes as possible in the game, recommended for ages eight and above.
LEGO 75955 Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Toy , Wizarding World Fan Gift
Price - £73.99
It may not be a Howgarts letter but the Hogwarts Express train set is expected to be one of this year's big sellers. It comes with the railway bridge and Platform 9¾ too.
Minifigures include Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Remus Lupin and the Trolley Witch, plus Dementor and Scabbers figures.
Little Live Pets 28813 Una Wrapples Toy, Multi-Colour
Price - £16.99
This fluffy wearable 'pet' talks, sings and even moves its interactive eyes.
Little Live Pets Wrapples Toys are available in three colours: Una, Skyo and Princeza. They come with a slap band feature to secure on your wrist and their eyes light up to match mood changes.
If you're wondering whether it'll be tricky to make it quiet, it'll go to sleep when tipped upside down. You'll probably want to remember that bit.
Chow Crown
Price - £21.99
Players wear a crown decorated with dangling forks that you load with your choice of food - sadly this doesn't come with the game.
Your headpiece spins and plays music as you desperately try to eat the food off the forks before the music stops. Is it going to be as messy as Pie Face? I guess that depends on your choice of snack.
L.O.L. Surprise! Bigger Surprise!
Price - £84.99
Last year's version set parents back £59.99 but this year's version promises to be bigger and better.
The new limited edition toy will feature 60+ Surprises and is available to pre-order from Amazon now. We'll leave you to decide whether it is worth the cash!
Explainer: How does Santa get all the toys made in time for Christmas?
Just how does he do it? It takes an awful lot of hard work. 
NOT MANY MORE sleeps left to go.
Santa is putting the finishing touches on preparations as he gets set to deliver gifts to children around the world.
TheJournal.ie has already taken a look at how Santa manages to deliver all the presents in just one night and how all the children's letters manage to make it to the North Pole in time – even if you send yours very late.
This year, we've another question we want to get to the bottom of.
We know that Santa manages to get all the toys made and ready just in time to bring them to children all around Ireland, ready to deliver once children make sure they go to bed nice and early on Christmas Eve.
But how does he do it?
Let's take a look
The evidenceFirstly, the best people to ask are the professionals.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie from North Pole HQ, Stephen Halpin – the head of Claus Communications – explained how the process begins a long time before Santa sets forth on Christmas Eve.
"In fact, almost as soon as Santa returns we get to work again to start getting ready for next year," he said.
While we're all relaxing on St Stephen's Day, Santa's workers are straight back onto designing, making and packaging the toys in time for next year.
Halpin said: "We wouldn't be able to do anything without our great workforce. Santa's a terrific boss. We all love him."
He explained how a workforce of around 1,200-strong do shift work at Santa's workshop.
Each person is educated to degree level – working across teams such as engineering, design, marketing and analytics.
There are dedicated teams for each kind of toy, broken down into categories such as dolls, cars, Lego etc.
The engineering and design teams make the toys from scratch, and the analytics teams examine trends to accurately determine what'll be popular next Christmas.
"If there's a new Avengers film coming out, for example, we know that lots of children will want some Captain Americas and Thors at Christmas time," Halpin said. "We're able to plan how many toys we'll need to make based on those kinds of trends. Over the years, we've got it spot on. But the most important thing is a happy workforce."
And happy they certainly are.
Despite being all the way up in the North Pole, Santa is well versed in the latest workplace practices.
There are wellness sessions organised for staff, flexible working hours and regular social events for teams to bond and work better together.
This Christmas is the first since Santa decided to move workers to a four-day working week, and this decision has been vindicated as production has now actually exceeded last year's levels.
"It was a game changer," Halpin admits.
Coming up to Christmas
While they're busy all-year round, it's in November when things really start to get hectic at North Pole HQ. Overtime is available for whoever wants it. Deadlines must be met. And everyone has to pull together to get all the toys ready, as well as some other important jobs.
"We have hundreds of staff seconded to sorting through letters," Halpin explained.
Some children start getting their letters in as early as October but the majority comes through in November and it's then that they find out if the toys they've spent all year making will be enough to meet demand.
Halpin said: "Luckily, we've gotten it pretty much bang on. There was one exception where we had order a few thousand additional copies of The42.ie's She Can colouring book but we're confident that every child who put that in their letters will have it under the tree on the 25th."
What happens next is a process that exasperates some North Pole workers keen on getting the job done as soon as possible, but one that Santa is most insistent on.
He has to personally check the naughty and nice list. And Halpin confirmed that he does, in fact, check it twice.
The final process then is ensuring that Santa's sack is full and correctly packed before he sets off on 24 December.
"We manage to create certain sections so that it's easier for Santa to get from house to house. He gets to Ireland fairly late so we'd pack the Irish toys about halfway down his sack."
And when Santa and the reindeer set off for their latest trip around the world, all at the North Pole can reflect on a job well done.
Halpin added: "We love then to get in the reports from all the children who Santa visits around the world and the toys they enjoy. I know this Christmas no matter where you are in Ireland and elsewhere, Santa should be popping you a visit."
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Top Christmas toys searched on Google
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — It's that time of year again.
Santa is making his list and checking it twice. And Google too is getting in on the list action.
The Internet giant has compiled the most searched for, or top trending, toys in November.
It's a pretty good measure of what parents will be buying, er, I mean what Santa will be hauling down the chimney this year.
Here's the list starting with the most popular:
She's 18 inches tall and she's the most popular toy on the Internet. Mattel's American Girl line of dolls and accessories was the most searched for toy last month. Google does not specify which American Girl &mdash: Addy, Caroline, Josefina — got the most clicks. But Isabelle Palmer is this year's Girl of the Year. She's an "inspired dancer" with "sparkling hazel eyes" and she will set you back $120 or $134 if she has pierced ears.
Princess Twilight Sparkle and her magical pony pals are hot this year. The My Little Pony toys were the second most searched last month. They cost anywhere from $4.99 for a single figure to $39.99 for a full play set.
The rescue pups on Paw Patrol from the Canadian TV series has been a hit on Nickelodeon since 2013. The top-selling Paw Patrol Look-out play set retails for $39.99.
The line of Lego toys aimed at girls 5 and up have taken off. Lego unveiled Lego Friends in 2011 in response to criticism that it didn't have enough "girl" toys. The top seller is the Lego Friends Heartlake Shopping Mall play set, which costs about $100.
Christmas isn't supposed to be spooky. But don't tell that to all the people searching for Ouija Boards online. The sudden interest in the board game/psychic medium stems from the October 24 release of "Ouija," a low-budget horror movie that was popular with teens. The standard, non-glow-in-the-dark Ouija Board, can be had for $19.99.
It wouldn't be a proper Christmas without Peppa Pig. The British cartoon aimed at preschoolers has been around for about 10 years. Peppa Pig toys include stuffed animals, books and figures, ranging in price from less than $10 to more than $40.
It's never too soon to start learning about shopping. The Shopkins toys are popular with kids five and up. The basic Shopkins supermarket play set, complete with merry-go-round checkout counter, sells for $24.99.
The Nerf arms race is on. Kids ages eight and up can arm themselves with bristling array of Nerf weaponry. The Nerf N-Strike Elite Retaliator Blaster ($23.99) fires "elite darts" made of foam up to 75 feet.
Barbie can live large in a new dream house for about $150. It's a three-story Malibu townhouse play set complete with an elevator, fireplace, hot tub and "luxe stainless steel appliances" in the kitchen. The 30-inch high dream house is for ages three and up.
The Zoomer Dino is a battery operated interactive toy for ages five and up. It rolls on two wheels, gets angry or excited depending on how you treat it, and makes sounds that include farts and burps, all for a little under $80.
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2014 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
Related Links Related StoriesFriday, April 10, 2020
What’s on TV tonight: Have I Got News for You, Money Heist, and more
Friday 10 April
The Graham Norton Show
BBC One, 9.00pm
One of the weirder things about the current situation is the time spent wondering just how some of our favourite shows are going to deal with this brave new socially isolated world. Will they be pulled from the schedules? Radically retooled? Are we set to become a nation of video-chatters, rubbernecking into other people's homes? The new series of The Graham Norton Show offers an indication of what's to come. There's a new earlier time slot, the format has been cut down to half an hour, the popular Red Chair has been relocated to a viewer's home, and the likeable Norton will look at the week's big stories before, if all goes to plan, hosting his celebrity guests virtually.
Whether this means we'll be treated to some entertaining bloopers is, of course, unclear, as indeed is who Norton will actually be interviewing, a situation that's only exacerbated by the fact that many of the year's biggest films, such as the new James Bond picture No Time to Die, have been pushed back. I'd imagine that the host will call upon perennially popular interviewees such as the effervescent Miriam Margolyes, always a winner on the red sofa, and mix them in with stars of forthcoming TV shows. SH
Alexander Armstrong's Heavenly Gardens
BBC One, 1.40pm
Anyone looking for something to banish the blues should tune in to this delightful two-part series. The opening episode sees Armstrong visiting the gardens of the Benedictine monks at Scotland's Pluscarden Abbey. And a further gardening fix is offered by Gardeners' World on BBC Two at 8.30pm.
Joe Lycett's Got Your Back
Channel 4, 8.00pm
The chirpy comedian returns with a new series of his consumer-affairs show (think Watchdog, but with jokes). In this episode, the focus is on fashion, plus Lycett reveals why he legally changed his name to Hugo Boss.
Have I Got News for You
BBC One, 8.30pm
The satirical quiz show continues with no live audience and a virtual studio. Stephen Mangan is the host and comedian Zoe Lyons and journalist Tim Shipman will join captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.
Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul
BBC Two, 9.00pm
This has been a particularly engaging series of Pilgrimage due in large part to the personalities involved. This final episode sees the seven celebrity pilgrims complete their last leg to Istanbul, where Fatima Whitbread wrestles with her Turkish origins.
Kenny Rogers: Cards on the Table
BBC Four, 9.00pm
He knew when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em and last month he walked away, dying at the age of 81. BBC Four pays tribute to the late, great country music singer Kenny Rogers with a repeat of this 2014 documentary featuring some fantastically candid interviews with Rogers himself and a host of celebrity friends.
Babylon Berlin
Sky Atlantic/NOW TV, 11.25pm and 12.30am
Sky Atlantic's bleak, brilliant and beautifully shot series comes to a thunderous conclusion with a movie premiere, an execution and the collapse of the global economy. No wonder the increasingly traumatised Rath (Volker Bruch) falls to his demons. SH
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951, b/w) ★★★
BBC Two, 3.30pm
A very young Audrey Hepburn appears briefly in the opening scenes of Charles Crichton's classic crime spoof, which is still one of Ealing Studios's most successful films to date. Alec Guinness stars as a meek bank manager who hatches an unlikely plan to smuggle gold bullion across the Channel disguised as models of the Eiffel Tower. Stanley Holloway and Sid James are his thieving buddies.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) ★★★★★
BBC One, 6.40pm
Steven Spielberg's rollicking adventure, a much-needed escape from our present anxieties, written by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, won four Oscars and created a new action hero in Dr Henry "Indiana" Jones (Harrison Ford). He's a US archaeologist on a daring mission to seek out the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis reach it.
The Theory of Everything (2014) ★★★★
ITV, 10.15pm
Eddie Redmayne deservedly won an Oscar for his portrayal of British theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking in James Marsh's moving adaptation of Jane Wilde Hawking's (played here by Felicity Jones) memoir. His battle with motor neurone disease is well-handled but it's the affecting story of love and marriage that lies at the film's heart.
Saturday 11 April (l-r) David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon Credit: ITVBritain's Got Talent
ITV, 8pm
While BBC One continues to rely on comedy repeats and All Round to Mrs Brown's for its Saturday-night light entertainment, taking the place of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway over on ITV is… Ant and Dec. Yes, the time has come for more of their wisecracks from the wings as the 14th series of Britain's Got Talent gets under way. It'll be business as usual for the pre-recorded audition shows, with a live audience and judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Walliams manning the buzzers in their evening wear.
Each of the contestants will be hoping for a slot in the live semi-finals – but those are, at the moment, being postponed until the coronavirus outbreak has eased. Among the acts braving the stage for the £250,000 prize money (and a slot at the Royal Variety Performance) tonight are Indian dance crew X1X, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, and Jon Courtenay, who combines comedy and playing the piano. For those who want to see the auditions that didn't make the main show, then spin-off Britain's Got Talent: Unseen will be available immediately after on the ITV Hub, which can be accessed online or via smart TVs. CG
Easter from King's
BBC Two, 7pm
Fortunately for those of us hoping for some degree of normality this Easter, King's College Chapel's annual service was recorded long before lockdown. Directed by Daniel Hyde, the choir perform hymns including O Vos Omnes and Were You There, alongside readings of poems written by Patrick Carey and Malcolm Guite.
Great Asian Railway Journeys
BBC Two, 8.15pm
In this instalment of his amiable travelogue, Michael Portillo embarks on a Thai journey from Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi, and from Bangkok to the southern beach resort of Hua Hin.
Twin
BBC Four, 9pm and 9.45pm
This atmospheric Norwegian drama got off to a fine start last week, when holiday park owner Adam was killed in an accident involving his estranged twin Erik (both played by Game of Thrones' Kristofer Hivju). While figuring out what to do, Erik and Adam's wife ended up letting the police believe that the body discovered in the sea was Erik's. In tonight's episodes, the lie spins further out of control.
Dynamo: Beyond Belief
Sky One/NOW TV, 9pm
It's been a challenging few years for Dynamo (not to mention recently testing positive for coronavirus). After suffering a prolonged period of ill health exacerbated by Crohn's disease, the magician used that experience to inspire his latest series. This final part continues his globe-trotting experiments with pain and illusion, as well as telling us the story of his road to recovery, and testing out a new medicine.
All Round to Mrs Brown's
BBC One, 9.15pm
Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll) invites an unusual gaggle of celebrities round to her studio this week. Former football manager Harry Redknapp and Radio 1 presenter Maya Jama stop by, while Mick Hucknall introduces Agnes to wine-tasting before performing with Simply Red.
Charles & Camilla: King and Queen in Waiting
Channel 5, 9.25pm
Channel 5's royal documentaries continue to come thick and fast. Tonight, the relationship of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall comes under the microscope. If that's not enough, it's followed by Diana: The Princess Who Changed the Royals. CG
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) ★★★★
BBC One, 6.25pm
Like all of Steven Spielberg's boisterous Indiana Jones adventures, this (the second) is ideal family viewing. Here, our intrepid archaeologist (Harrison Ford) must retrieve a mystical stone from an Indian cult during the years of empire. The cast includes Kate Capshaw and Amrish Puri. Last Crusade and Crystal Skull air on Sunday at 4.35pm and Monday at 6.40pm respectively.
Victoria & Abdul (2017) ★★★
BBC Two, 9.15pm
Stephen Frears's fascinating real-life tale about the extraordinary friendship between the ageing Queen Victoria (a sensational Judi Dench) and her young Muslim attendant Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), known as "the Munshi", is all nostalgia and inertia – a tale ablaze with historical import and contemporary resonance, reduced to commemorative biscuit tin proportions. Eddie Izzard co-stars.
Clouds of Sils Maria (2014) ★★★★
BBC Two, 11pm
A complex, bewitching and fearlessly intelligent psychological fondue from France's Olivier Assayas, with Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart as a famous actress and her diligent and devoted personal assistant, prepping for a play that shapes the drama of their own lives in its likeness. Playful and addictively strange, this is career-best work from the immensely talented Stewart.
Sunday 12 April Sophie Rundle and Martin Compston in The Nest Credit: Mark MainzThe Nest
BBC One, 9pm
One of the best things about Nicole Taylor's subtle and addictive drama has been the way in which it consistently challenges our expectations with regard to plot and character development. What might have appeared to be a standard Sunday-night potboiler about the lengths to which someone might go to have a baby has slowly bloomed out to become an enthralling and clever drama about class and privilege. The Nest explores what life is like for people who have everything and how they interact with those who have nothing. Taylor never falls back on cliché with character decisions and constantly allows us to see even minor parts in fresh and increasingly surprising ways.
That's particularly true of this penultimate episode, which takes the plot in unexpected but realistic directions, while ensuring that each of the three main characters continue to command our sympathy. It's so well done that it would be a crime to give anything more away, but suffice to say that Mirren Mack continues to enthral as the volatile, vulnerable Kaya, while the great Shirley Henderson continues to be thoroughly unnerving as Kaya's mother. Tomorrow night's finale can't come too soon. SH
Urbi et Orbi
BBC One, 11am
These are testing times for Easter celebrations, with Pope Francis delivering his traditional Easter message to an empty St Peter's Basilica. This is followed by a Sunday Worship (BBC One, 11.25am) celebration from Bangor Cathedral, and finally Songs of Praise (BBC One, 1.15pm) features Katherine Jenkins at the new church of St Luke's Gas Street in Birmingham.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special
ITV, 7pm
Singer Charlotte Church, presenter Richard Osman and former footballer John Barnes join Jeremy Clarkson for a special celebrity edition of the popular quiz show, which returns for a new series proper in May.
Sacred Songs: The Secrets of Our Hearts
BBC Four, 7pm
The award-winning Tenebrae choir would normally have a full schedule in the run-up to Easter. With that on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, they've come up with an innovative way to celebrate Easter Sunday with a half-hour performance featuring all 19 singers filmed at separate locations and under the direction of Nigel Short. Music includes Bach, Henry Purcell and Hubert Parry.
Belgravia
ITV, 9pm
It might be a load of old hooey but Belgravia remains an enjoyable way to pass a Sunday evening. This penultimate episode sees the dastardly Oliver (Richard Goulding) stepping up his investigation into Charles's (Jack Bardoe) mysterious past.
Wolf Hall
BBC Four, 10pm and 11.05pm
The recent publication of The Mirror and the Light provides BBC Four with the perfect excuse to rerun the acclaimed adaptation of the first two books in Hilary Mantel's trilogy. Starring Mark Rylance as an excellent but dour Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis as Henry VIII and a luminous Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn. The action begins with Cromwell serving Cardinal Wolsey (Jonathan Pryce).
Limmy's Homemade Show
BBC Two, 10.45pm
The anarchic Scottish comedian returns with a new series of surreal observations. At times the stream of consciousness seems utterly random, but immerse yourself in the flow and it somehow starts to make a strange sort of sense. SH
The Ten Commandments (1956) ★★★★
Channel 5, 1.40pm
An epic watch for a time when our lives feel small and narrow. The final film made by Cecil B DeMille eschews subtlety in favour of epic set-pieces and dramatic storytelling. Charlton Heston, never one to turn down a thunderous lead role, plays Moses in the story of the prophet's life. Highlights include the pleasingly over-the-top dialogue and, of course, the parting of the Red Sea.
Bumblebee (2018) ★★★★
Channel 4, 5.45pm
Travis Knight takes the Transformers films and sidesteps into 1987; it's still a giant toy-advert, but there's artistry here. Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) is the heroine for whom freedom from her mother (Pamela Adlon) and family rests on gaining a set of wheels. Enter a robot from the planet Cybertron, closely followed by a mix of nostalgic reverie and the usual hectic action.
A Fish Called Wanda (1988) ★★★★★
BBC One, 10.30pm
Nobody does manic, despairing farce quite like John Cleese, who co-wrote and co-stars in this Bafta-winning film, directed by Charles Crichton. He plays Archie Leach, a lawyer who is seduced by femme fatale Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) – not realising that she's a con artist who's using him for her own ends. Michael Palin has a funny, if politically incorrect, turn as a criminal with a stutter.
Monday 13 April Matthew Macfadyen, Sian Clifford and Michael Sheen in Quiz Credit: Matt FrostQuiz
ITV, 9pm
"We don't cheat!" says Sian Clifford's Diana Ingram as she answers a phone call from her Royal Army husband Charles during a local pub quiz in a sleepy Wiltshire village. Ah, Charles and Diana – it sounds like a fairy tale, but life turned out to be anything but for the Ingrams, who in 2003 were convicted of attempting to steal £1 million by deception from ITV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? It's a story that everyone thinks they already know – the "Coughing Major" was the show's most infamous million-pound winner at time when the programme was watched by a third of the British population.
But Stephen Frears's rollicking three-part adaptation (continuing tomorrow and Wedneday) of James Graham's hit 2017 stage play examines that very notion of post-truth and suggests that the case is not as clear cut as one might expect. This opener begins with the creation of Celador boss Paul Smith's new prime-time jewel and skilfully works in the bumbling Major (Matthew Macfadyen) and his family of fanatics, while a fake-tanned Michael Sheen is reliably entertaining as host Chris Tarrant. So did they cheat? You'll certainly enjoy attempting to find out the final answer. RW
Killing Eve
BBC iPlayer, 6am
Series two ended with a bang – literally, when Jodie Comer's glorious, reckless Villanelle shot MI6 operative Eve (Sandra Oh) in the back. What that run-in means for this third series holds plenty of intrigue as new writer Suzanne Heathcote takes the baton. Episodes are available weekly with the series also airing on BBC One from Sunday.
Daily Kitchen Live
BBC One, 10am
Step forward John West Tuna, for this is your time to shine as Tin Can Cook author Jack Monroe and chef Matt Tebbutt begin a fortnight residency presenting lockdown recipes on a budget.
The Great Mountain Sheep Gather
BBC Four, 7pm
Scafell Pike is England's tallest mountain and home to a flock of native Herdwick sheep who must descend into the valley below every summer for shearing. This film follows their journey via a delightfully novel bird's-eye view – the camera is onboard a dog, a sheep and the shepherd himself.
Springtime on the Farm
Channel 5, 8pm
There's a new generation of heirs at Highclere Castle, but it's nothing to do with the Downton crew, rather a bountiful litter of British Lop pigs after Lady Carnarvon selects a high-class boar to mate with her gilts. This, and more heart-warming tales in a new series focusing on the work of farmers during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Nest
BBC One, 9pm
On the surface, this compelling surrogacy thriller has been about love and money, with the smallest of mysteries piquing curiosity. In this final episode, inner-turmoil and ethics are addressed as Dan (Martin Compston) launches a legal battle against a lonely Kaya (excellent newcomer Mirren Mack, surely a Bafta shoo-in?).
Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Opry
BBC Two, 9pm
Not a rhinestone goes unturned in this celebration. Alongside cute family photos, Parton regales stories of becoming a country megastar. And, of course, there's the hits, including I Will Always Love You, actually written as a resignation letter.
Flack
W, 10pm
Anna Paquin returns as erratic PR queen Robyn in the second series of this dark comedy. But news of an unexpected pregnancy sends her off the rails once more. RW
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) ★★★★★
Channel 5, 2.15pm
David Lean's largely fictional telling of the Second World War story of the Thailand-Burma Railway, based on the novel by Pierre Boulle, is wonderfully complex. It features Alec Guinness in his finest performance as Colonel Nicholson, who goes mad before our eyes, as he and other Allied PoWs hack the 255-mile railway out of harsh Japanese jungle while battling torture, starvation and disease.
The Robe (1953) ★★★★
BBC Two, 3.pm
Henry Koster's biblical film set in ancient Rome is unabashedly epic in scope. Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) is a loyal soldier who serves the Empire, to the point of overseeing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In a game, he wins the robe that Jesus had worn – but its holy power starts to work upon him, and his loyalties are torn. Burton is as magnificently stormy as ever; Victor Mature and Jean Simmons co-star.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) ★★★★
Channel 4, 9pm
Colin Firth plays a suave Bond-like spy who recruits an urban ne'er-do-well (Taron Egerton) and initiates him into a secret intelligence agency known as Kingsman. It's explosive, comic-book stuff; true, it has all the subtlety of a hand grenade, but there's plenty of arched-eyebrow fun to be had as they set about tracking down Samuel L Jackson's baddy. Mark Strong and Michael Caine co-star.
Tuesday 14 April Prue Leith and Li-Da Kruger Credit: Bright Button MediaPrue Leith: Journey with My Daughter
Channel 4, 9pm
The "celebrity heads abroad and discovers something about themselves" format is everywhere but this documentary from The Great British Bake Off's Prue Leith is a film with a difference. In 1974, Leith adopted her daughter Li-Da from Cambodia, who was airlifted out of the country days before the Khmer Rouge seized power; Leith was told that the little girl's mother had died in a rocket attack. What followed was a warm and loving Cotswolds childhood described by Li-Da as "like a fairy tale".
Yet at the heart of that fairy tale lay a gaping hole – in a particularly moving moment, Leith recalls the empty frames her daughter had at the ancestors' table at her wedding – and this engrossing film follows the pair as they travel to Cambodia in an attempt to uncover the truth. Filled with revealing moments, from Leith's admission that she wished she'd talked to Li-Da about her background more as a child to Li-Da's yearning for a sense of self, the film is a lovely celebration of an intimate mother/ daughter relationship and a fascinating peek behind the pragmatic Leith's occasionally brusque front. It's a genuinely surprising and emotional watch. SH
Our Girl
BBC One, 9pm
Despite its occasionally soapy plot, military drama Our Girl has never shied away from the trauma that active service can induce. That's particularly true of this tense episode in which a series of devastating events leave Georgie (Michelle Keegan) struggling to cope.
Inside the Factory
BBC Two, 9pm
The focus is on pots and pans as Gregg Wallace visits an impressively efficient foundry in France, Ruth Goodman explains the history behind slow cookers and Cherry Healey heads to South Africa to see one of the world's largest iron ore mines.
A Country Life for Half the Price with Kate Humble
Channel 5, 9pm
Most families with teenagers struggle with one bathroom, so spare a thought for the Golby family in Epsom who have nine children clamouring to use the shower. Can Kate Humble help them find the idyllic country property of their dreams?
From Andy Pandy to Zebedee: The Golden Age of Children's TV
BBC Four, 9pm
First shown in 2015, this entertaining look at children's programming in the pre-digital age, from the early days of Watch With Mother through The Magic Roundabout to the likes of Morph, is heavy on nostalgia and a bit light on contributions from the innovative ITV. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining slice of comfort viewing,
Miss Scarlet and Duke
Alibi, 9pm
The engaging period detective drama continues with Eliza (Kate Phillips) suffering with a conflict of interests after being asked to spy on a group of suffragettes.
Derry Girls
E4, 10pm
In the short time it's been on air, Derry Girls has already established itself as a classic, so it's a smart move on E4's behalf to run the whole thing from the beginning to tide us all over during trying times. As Orla would say: "Cracker".
Believe Me: The Cyprus Rape Case
ITV, 10.45pm
Julie Etchingham interviews the British teenager who reported a gang rape to the police in Cyprus only to end up on trial for allegedly falsifying the story. The programme includes new footage and examines the circumstances under which she retracted her initial claim. SH
The Longships (1963) ★★★
BBC Two, 3.15pm
This Anglo-Yugoslav period film, directed by Jack Cardiff, stars Richard Widmark as an adventurous Viking con man, who sets off on a series of maritime adventures to find a mythic golden bell before his rival, the leader of the Moors played by Sidney Poitier. There is a bit of a collision of styles between Widmark's japing performance and Poitier's deadly seriousness, but it's a good romp nonetheless.
Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) ★★★★
Sky Cinema Premiere/NOW TV, 8pm
Spider-Man: Far From Home offers a breezy, European intermezzo between Avengers: Endgame and whatever is coming next – a kind of sorbet in blockbuster form. The film works best when it allows itself to be a teen movie: Tom Holland's Spider-Man (an appealing mix of cocky and earnest) would rather enjoy his school trip than contend to be the next A-list superhero.
The Ritual (2017) ★★★
Film4, 9pm
Roughly a laddish reboot of The Descent in Swedish forests, The Ritual has a gargantuan, cloven-hoofed monster stomping around, impaling cast members on the top of trees. But the true enemy is letting your mates down: Luke (Rafe Spall) and four friends are on a grief-stricken camping trip after the unnecessary death of one of their number. The film is only a modest success as a scare machine but it has a brain in its head.
Wednesday 15 April Nick Offerman and Sonoya Mizuno in Devs Credit: FX NetworksDevs
BBC Two, 9pm
"Nothing happens without a reason.Everything is determined." This beguiling and ambitious techno thriller – its title is short for "development" – was originally made for the US streaming service Hulu. Lost meets Westworld with a dash of Black Mirror, it is just the sort of escapism that cult TV devotees need during these strange times. Encryption engineer Lily (Sonoya Mizuno) and her AI coder boyfriend Sergei (Karl Glusman) work as programmers at the sprawling Silicon Valley campus of quantum computing company Amaya.
Sergei soon catches the eye of enigmatic CEO Forest (Parks & Recreation's Nick Offerman in hirsute hippy guru mode) and is promoted to a top secret division of the futuristic firm – but when he fails to return home after his first day, an alarmed Lily begins to investigate his disappearance. The atmospheric eight-parter is written and directed by zeitgeist-surfing polymath Alex Garland – author of 1990s bestseller The Beach, and screenwriter of films including 28 Days Later and Ex Machina. Garland is a specialist in dystopian sci-fi, and Devs is a haunting, meditative and visually arresting series. The second episode airs tomorrow. MH
The Innocence Files
Netflix
This admirable true-crime series, made in collaboration with charity The Innocence Project, investigates cases of wrongful conviction. In the process, it exposes difficult truths about the USA's deeply flawed justice system.
MasterChef
BBC One, 9pm
The culinary contest's final phase begins with the four remaining home cooks jetting to the island of Mauritius, where they face three daunting challenges, including creating a dinner for local chefs Moroogun Coopen and Peeroo Nizam. As an added bonus, we get to see John Torode and Gregg Wallace in linen leisurewear.
Quiz
ITV, 9pm
Are you sure? Confident? But did they do it? The absorbing factual drama concludes its three-night run with the Ingrams (Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford) and Tecwen Whittock (Michael Jibson) heading to court amid some brutal treatment in the press. At first it seems like a cut and dry case in favour of the prosecution, but once things get underway the jury learn there is more to the "coughgate" scandal than they assumed.
Rebuilding Notre Dame: Inside the Great Cathedral Rescue
BBC Four, 9pm
This gently fascinating film follows efforts to rebuild the Gothic masterpiece by architects, scientists and historians, a year after it was ravaged by fire.
Run
Sky Comedy/NOW TV, 9pm
From the team behind Fleabag and Killing Eve comes this propulsive new comedy thriller. Housewife Ruby (Merritt Wever) gets a one-word text message from beau Billy (Domhnall Gleeson) and, according to a pact they made years earlier, must flee across America with him. Romantic and witty – the TV highlight of the year so far.
Mister Winner
BBC Two, 10pm
It's a cross-promotional episode for the BBC as Leslie (Spencer Jones) plans to go to a Doctor Who fan convention, but reluctantly stays in to wait for a parcel. Cue all manner of Mr Bean-esque misfortune.
In My Skin
BBC One, 10.45pm; Northern Ireland, 11.15pm
In this third episode of the bleak but tender Welsh comedy, Bethan (Gabrielle Creevy) finds herself divided between two friends, while her mother is discharged from hospital. MH
Yesterday (2019) ★★★
Sky Cinema Premiere/NOW TV, 8pm
Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, this comic fantasy is themed around the music of the Beatles. Struggling singer-songwriter, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) wakes up after an accident to discover he is the only person in the world who can remember the band. Initially, the film has lots of fun with its premise, but slows into a more ordinary cautionary tale about the hard side of stardom.
Brassed Off (1996) ★★★★
Film4, 9pm
A darker cousin of The Full Monty, Mark Herman's drama about a colliery brass band fighting the closure of their pit is a howl of rage against Margaret Thatcher's treatment of mining communities. Ewan McGregor tootles on his cornet and Tara Fitzgerald blows the flugelhorn as the young romantic leads, but it is the great Peter Postlethwaite who steals the show as the band leader dying of lung disease.
Baby Driver (2017) ★★★★
Sony Movies, 10.55pm
Edgar Wright's infectious car-chase thriller, about a getaway-driving cutie-pie savant (Ansel Elgort, bringing a physical musicality to every on-screen task) whose every move behind the wheel is in Olympic-level sync with whichever song is pulsing through his eyepod, will make you believe in magic. The editing is stunning and keeps the film a skip ahead of its forebears. Lily James is Baby's sugary girlfriend.
Thursday 16 April Grayson PerryGrayson's Art Club
Channel 4, 8pm
We've embraced Joe Wicks as the nation's PE teacher, now Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry bids to become everyone's favourite art teacher with this innovative national art club. The central idea is a simple one: each week the engaging Perry will open up his studio to the world, allowing us to see how he works, creating new pieces, talking to other artists about how they're spending their time in isolation and hosting weekly art classes, which can be followed at home.
Members of the public, meanwhile, are asked to send in their own artistic efforts, which can be anything from sculpture and painting to digital art, memes or even brilliantly over-the-top make-up looks. The artist will then choose those he likes best every week and talk to their creators via video call. The best of these works will be displayed in a public exhibition once the pandemic is over in an attempt to capture the way in which the country's moods fluctuated during isolation. While that in itself will be worth checking out, Perry's real intention is to boost the country's mood during a difficult time. So what are you waiting for? Dig out those paintbrushes and give it a go. SH
Fauda
Netflix
The makers of this fast-paced Israeli drama about a counter-terrorism unit headed up by the world's angriest man, Doron Kavillio (Lior Raz), certainly know how to raise the tension, which is just one reason it has become a global word-of-mouth hit. This third season, shifting the action to the Gaza strip, broke TV records when it aired in Israel at the end of last year. A slow-burning opener sees Kavillio working undercover in a West Bank boxing gym.
How to Make: Headphones
BBC Four, 8pm
Zoe Laughlin turns her attention to headphones for the final part of this informative series about the technology and manufacture behind everyday products. Beginning with the first ever (incredibly expensive) headphones and continuing through the invention of the Sony Walkman to noise cancellers, Bluetooth, all the way to Apple air pods, Laughlin looks at the key components before trying to make her own.
Devs
BBC Two, 9pm
Alex Garland's fascinating tech thriller continues with a slow but intriguing episode which sees a grief-stricken Lily (Sonoya Mizuno) uncover at least one of Sergei's (Karl Glusman) secrets. Nick Offerman steals the show as the creepy but compelling Forest.
Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip
ITV, 9pm
The gang head to San Francisco where love is very much not in the air for Gordon Ramsay, who is even grumpier than usual. Meanwhile, fellow travellers Gino D'Acampo and Fred Sirieix throw caution to the wind and sample a hippy High Tea.
The Truth About Traveller Crime: Dispatches
Channel 4, 9pm
In a report that seems certain to garner headlines, this Dispatches documentary sees Anja Popp report on the controversial issue of traveller sites and crime. Popp goes on patrol with the police, interviews disgruntled residents and hears from travellers and their advocates.
Front Row Late
BBC Two, 11.30pm
With isolation forcing shows to get innovative, the opening episode of the new series of Front Row Late, hosted by Mary Beard from her study, sees an exclusive puppet production of an Edgar Allen Poe short story created by none other than Margaret Atwood and her sister Ruth. SH
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) ★★★★
BBC Two, 3.05pm
Terry-Thomas is as splendid as ever in Ken Annakin's cheery, award-winning comedy, set in the early days of air travel. A big reward is on offer to the winner of an air race from London to Paris; Terry-Thomas's crafty Sir Percival Ware-Armitage is among the pilots that take to the skies. His rivals – all zany period stereotypes – include Gert Fröbe, Sarah Miles and Jean-Pierre Cassel.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)★★★★★
Syfy, 10pm
Steven Spielberg directs this groundbreaking adventure about a disparate group of people who are drawn to make contact with aliens. Richard Dreyfuss gives a memorable performance as a father who becomes obsessed by the image of a mountain which turns out to be a landing site. Still today it is an eerily hypnotic, effects-driven wonder, with a five-note musical motif from John Williams.
Fargo (1996) ★★★★★
ITV4, 10.40pm
No Country for Old Men and True Grit were more successful Coen Brothers films at the box office, but this one is their best. Brutal, quirky and hilarious, it's about a bumbling car salesman (William H Macy) who plans to clear his debts by hiring two crooks (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife, then keeping her father's ransom. Frances McDormand excels as the pregnant police officer on his tail.
Friday 17 April John Torode and Gregg Wallace Credit: Heat 10MasterChef
BBC One, 7.30pm
The fiendishly addictive cookery contest has momentarily distracted us away from our store cupboard suppers during lockdown with its endlessly elaborate menus of meat cooked three-ways and "deconstructed" desserts. Not forgetting, of course, the ubiquitous seared scallops in a minted pea purée. In the process, a captive audience has seen ratings soar. In this episode, it's finally time to crown the 16th MasterChef winner.
After eight gruelling weeks of challenges and eliminations, 60 home cooks have been whittled down to the final three. Now they must push the culinary boundaries for one last time, showcasing all they've learned by creating a spectacular three-course meal for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. After they've deliberated, cogitated and digested (to borrow former host Loyd Grossman's catchphrase) – not to mention ratcheted up the tension with long, dramatic pauses – one contender will be named champion. Which dish will make narrator India Fisher purr loudest? Will Torode declare any of the offerings "A grade plade-o-food"? And will Wallace combust with excitement at the mouth-watering puddings? Let's cook. MH
Bosch
Amazon Prime Video
Los Angeles detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch (laconic Titus Welliver) returns for a sixth series of brooding police procedurals. The series is based on the crime novels of Michael Connelly, who helped create the show and serves as an executive producer. The latest season follows the plot of The Overlook which involves a sinister terrorist plot that draws the interest of the FBI, leading to Bosch finding himself sidelined.
Too Hot to Handle
Netflix
The streaming service recently scored a viral hit with dating show Love is Blind, which sees young singles "date" with a wall between them before getting engaged and meeting in person. Netflix will be hoping for similar success with this Love Island-like series in which singletons descend on a tropical paradise. Naturally, there's a twist. For a chance at the, relatively measly, $100,000 prize, couples must abstain from any intimate bedroom activity.
Joe Lycett's Got Your Back
Channel 4, 8pm
An engaging blend of comedy and consumer journalism. Host Lycett ropes in his celebrity pals including Scarlett Moffatt and Kim Woodburn to share thrifty fast-food tips, tackle toll-road fines, expose car insurance bad practice and investigate disabled access to gyms.
Have I Got News for You
BBC One, 8.30pm
After last week's slightly surreal webcam trial of the show, Telegraph columnist Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts another lockdown edition of the satirical quiz, with entrepreneur Deborah Meaden among the guests joining regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.
The Graham Norton Show
BBC One, 9pm
Impish host Graham Norton continues the lockdown-adjusted series. He reviews news stories, welcomes big-name guests (none yet confirmed) and subjects viewers to his notorious Red Chair, now relocated to the comfort of their own homes.
Friday Night Dinner
Channel 4, 10pm
Patriarch Martin (Paul Ritter) is being a miseryguts on his birthday and his family are in for a surprise when they find out why. Just when things can't get much grimmer, "Horrible Grandma" (Rosalind Knight) turns up uninvited. Escalating hysteria ensues. MH
Swallows and Amazons (1974) ★★★★★
BBC Two, 3.45pm
This cosy adaptation of Arthur Ransome's novel about two gangs of children messing about in boats in 1920s Cumbria is a quite wonderful throwback. The children are kind, the parents are loving, there's no violence. It's hard to imagine this film being made today – indeed, the 2016 remake felt the need to add Russian spies – but it's charmingly worked. Ronald Fraser and Virginia McKenna star.
Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) ★★★★★
CBBC, 6.15pm
Shaun the Sheep has become a modern-day ambaa-ssador (sorry) of silent comedy: first in his ongoing television series, and now in this gloriously funny feature-length adventure that sees him and his flock getting into various scrapes in a beautifully detailed and unmistakably British city. Every frame is crammed with wit and invention, as the individual jokes blow past like dandelion seeds.
Cold in July (2014) ★★★★
BBC Two, 11.20pm
The fourth feature from director Jim Mickle and co-writer Nick Damici was the first to confirm they really had something. The plot is brazen, sweltering pulp, a southern Gothic nightmare from the Texas backwoods, but it's built with care, and finished with a master craftsman's eye. After shooting an intruder dead, meek family man Richard (Michael C Hall) must protect his family from a vengeance-seeker.
Television previewersVicki Power (VP), Gerard O'Donovan (GO), Gabriel Tate (GT), Sarah Hughes (SH), Toby Dantzic (TD)
Coronavirus update: Gov. Cooper announces new executive order changing social distancing rules for stores, nursing homes
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Here are the latest updates about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in North Carolina.
11:50 a.m.A Harnett County resident who worked at the Hardee's at 2309 Gillespie Street in Fayetteville has tested positive for COVID-19. Cumberland County Department of Public Health and Harnett County Health Department are conducting a joint investigation and reaching out to individuals that may have been in contact with the person who tested positive.
Individuals who were at the restaurant during the times and dates noted below who start to experience COVID-19 symptoms (fever, coughing, or shortness of breath) should stay home and separate themselves from other people in the home.
March 27, 5am-3:45pmMarch 28, 5am-6pmMarch 30, 9am-6:30pmMarch 31, 9am-3:30pmApril 1, 5am-1:30pmApril 2, 5am-2:00pmApril 3, 5am- 2:00 pmApril 4, 5am-10:30pmApril 7, 8:30am-12:00pm
No other Hardee's locations in Cumberland County were affected. The Hardee' s location was following guidelines for operation outlined in Executive Order 118 and was not providing dine-in service to customers.
11:00 a.m.At least 3,908 COVID-19 cases have been reported in 91 counties across North Carolina, an increase of 257 cases from the previous day. Health officials reported 74 deaths due to COVID-19 and 423 people hospitalized with severe symptoms.
RELATED: Why you might see different numbers of COVID-19 cases depending where you look
At least 57,645 tests have been completed statewide.
According to data from the Department of Health and Human Services, there are 23 ongoing outbreaks in nursing homes statewide, including one in Cumberland County, one in Durham County, one in Johnston County, two in Orange County, one in Wake County, one in Wayne County and one in Wilson County. Health officials define an outbreak as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases.
Wake County reported 388 cases of the novel coronavirus, an increase of 3 cases from Thursday evening.
9:45 a.m.The latest figures from the North Carolina Division of Employment Security show more than half a million people in the state have filed for unemployment in the last month with 444,178 (87 percent) of those claims related to COVID-19.
There have been 509,693 total claims since March 16 in the state, with the highest one-day total coming on March 20, where 34,706 filed. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.
The surge in unemployment has caused some problems for those filing, as many have experienced trouble with long wait times on the phone or issues with the website.
"It was really hard for us to see this coming," Lockhart Taylor, Assistant Secretary for Employment Security told ABC11 last month.
9 a.m.Duplin Winery is donating 15,000 gallons of wine to The Hackney Distillery in Washington to help make hand sanitizer. The distillery will distill the Muscadine wine and convert into hand sanitizer, according to a release from the winery.
The majority of the sanitizer will go to the Vidant Health System and be distributed to different Vidant providers throughout southeastern North Carolina.
The COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina took another twist on Thursday as Gov. Roy Cooper announced a new Executive Order that will change social distancing guidelines at retail stores and nursing homes. Employees at nursing homes will be required to wear fac e masks and facilities will have to screen employees after an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases at nursing homes in central North Carolina. Cooper is also ordering stores to seriously limit the number of customers allowed inside at one time. Starting on Monday, stores cannot exceed 20 percent of fire capacity, or five people for every 1,000 square feet at any given time. The order also mandates frequent cleaning.
The order will also make it easier to get unemployment claims processed faster. Gov. Cooper says the order will make it easier for employers to file a batch of claims on behalf of their employees. Roughly 497,000 unemployment claims have been accepted so far.
Tracking North Carolina COVID-19 cases
Durham County approved the Durham Marriott on Guardian Drive to house homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Friday through July 9, the $1.6 million contract allows for 225 rooms.
With Easter coming up on Sunday, area churches are preparin g for Easter services that won't be in-person or follow the traditional format. Churches like Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh have started volunteer opportunities to offer help to those in need during the pandemic. Providence has seen a surge in interaction during its online services since the pandemic began.
"I spend time in prayer, " Providence Pastor Brian Frost said. "I spend time in his word. I spend time on the phone with people who can help encourage me in the same way I can help encourage somebody else."
Providence will stream its Easter service on ABC11.com.
President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force will speak Friday at 1 p.m. in a media briefing.THURSDAY8 p.m.Four people at a long-term health care facility in Knightdale have tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first outbreak at a long-term care facility in Wake County.
Two nurses and two patients at the Wellington Rehabilitation and Healthcare have tested positive for the virus. Two of those patients are being treated at WakeMed Health and Hospitals.
RELATED: Coronavirus cases surge in North Carolina nursing homes
"We're concerned about the potential for COVID-19 to spread rapidly among residents at the facility because many of the residents are older and have additional health conditions that put them at risk of serious illness if they contract the virus," said Wake County Medical Director Dr. Kim McDonald.
In the meantime, public health is advising staff at Wellington Rehabilitation and Healthcare to wear personal protective equipment at all times and c ontinue to practice social distancing.
6:50 p.m.Ten additional Durham County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, raising the county total to 245.
5:45 p.m.There are now a total of 72 positive cases of COVID-19 in Cumberland County as of Thursday, three more than Wednesday.
Out of the 72, two cases are associated with a congregate living or rehabilitation center, according to the Cumberland County Department of Public Health.
5:10 p.m.Four cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Laurels of Chatham Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsboro.
RELATED: Nearly 90 coronavirus cases concentrated at 2 North Carolina care facilities
In an effort to limit the spread of the virus, the Chatham County Public Health Department is working with the long-term care facility to identify and test any residents or staff members who were in close contact with the people who tested positive or are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
4:55 p.m.A Wayne County resident has died on Thursday from complications with the novel coronavirus. According to the Wayne County Health Department, the patient was in their early 80's and suffered from underlying medical conditions."Our condolences and prayers are with the family. This is a sad reminder of how COVID-19 can impact those at high risk for severe symptoms," said Interim Health Director Ken Stern. "It is important that we all do our part to stop the spread of this virus by staying at home, practicing social distancing if you must go out, and following other CDC guidelines."
Officials did not release the identity of the patient.
4 p.m.Governor Roy Cooper announced during a news conference that a new executive order will go into effect Monday that makes changes to guidelines for shopping and grocery and retail stores.
Starting Monday at 5 p.m., stores cannot exceed 20 percent of fire capacity or five people for every 1,000 square feet at any given tim e.
Stores must also have 6-foot markers at congregation areas like checkouts and must perform frequent cleaning and disinfection.
Additionally, the executive order will encourage that all stores have shopping hours for seniors and at-risk people as well as have hand sanitizer accessible for shoppers. The governor asks that stores use shields for employees at checkout and limit aisles to one-way traffic.
Changes will also be coming to nursing homes. The executive order will prohibit dining and group activities in common spaces. Employees will be required to wear face masks and facilities will have to screen employees and residents for symptoms of COVID-19.
The third part of the order will require additional measures to get more unemployment claims processed faster. Gov. Cooper says the order will make it easier for employers to file a batch of claims on behalf of their employees.
According to the employment department, 497,000 unemployment claims have be en accepted so far.
Gov. Cooper said the department has also received updated guidance from the federal government on how to disburse the supplemental $600 a week benefit. He said those payments are expected to begin by the end of next week.
3:15 p.m.Fort Bragg announced it would require anyone entering the commissary, exchange, or any other public area to be wearing a face covering starting Friday, April 10.
The rule change applies to all employees and patrons--including military personnel, family members, civilian employees, et al.
Anyone not wearing a face covering of some type will be turned away. They will be allowed to enter as soon as they return with a face covering.
Fort Bragg said the face covering does not have to be a mask. It can be any sort of cloth item that covers the nose and mouth."We know this is an inconvenience for many of you, but it is being implemented out of an abundance of caution. Remember, the wearing of a mask is NOT to protect you from infection, but to prevent the spread of the virus to others. These measures are meant to alleviate the risk of contamination from those without symptoms who may not know their status."
2:40 p.m.Wake County is now reporting 385 cases, an increase of 14 from Wednesday. Mecklenburg County has the most in the state with 861.
2:30 p.m.Sampson County is now reporting 10 positive cases. Three of the patients are now considered recovered.
10:55 a.m.At least 3,651 COVID-19 cases have been reported in North Carolina, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. At least 65 people have died from complications due to the virus, with 398 people in the hospital.
Coron avirus maps: Tracking North Carolina COVID-19 cases
The new numbers mark an increase in 225 cases and 12 deaths since Wednesday.
RELATED: Why you might see different numbers of COVID-19 cases depending where you look
At least 47,809 COVID-19 tests have been completed statewide.
9:00 a.m.Halifax County reported two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 19.
"Please continually practice staying at home, social distancing, hand washing," county Health Director Bruce Robistow said in a written statement. "Encourage everyone that you know to do the same."
Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
McDonald's UK Will Stop Putting Plastic Toys In Happy Meals Next Year
A few months after celebrating the Happy Meal's 40th anniversary by resurrecting some of its most popular toys, McDonald's UK has announced that it will be eliminating plastic toys altogether in the the UK and Ireland.
Starting in 2021, McDonald's restaurants across the pond will swap out a hard plastic non-sustainable toy with either a soft toy, a paper-based toy, or an optional book. The company said the move would eliminate more than 3,000 metric tons of potential plastic waste. And starting this month, McDonald's will be testing paper packaging for Happy Meal toys and books instead of plastic cellophane, which will further reduce plastic waste by an additional 200 metric tons.
The announcement comes after several campaigns encouraged the fast food giant to find ways to reduce its environmental footprint. That includes a Change.org petition started by two young girls wanting McDonald's to stop giving away plastic toys with its kids meals, which has collected over 568,000 signatures to-date.
Beyond reducing plastic it's giving out, McDonald's in the UK also plans to take back of the plastic already in the wild. The company announced it will be installing collection boxes for used and unwanted Happy Meal toys that customers can drop off. The toys will be recycled, and the regenerated plastic will be used to build playground equipment for Ronald McDonald House Charities based in the UK and Ireland.
McDonald's restaurants in countries like Canada already offer book alternatives to Happy Meal toys. While these localised initiatives are a solid start, the UK and Ireland have a little over 1,300 restaurants at the moment. At a global level, there are over 37,800 McDonald's restaurants around the world. Cutting down plastic toys and other waste are really needed at that level to really make a dent.
Single-use plastic waste is just one of many unfortunate side effects of fast food chains like McDonald's specifically targeting children with special meals that include toys and collectibles. The next step after that will be to eliminate the Happy Meal altogether and encourage families (and kids) to seek out healthier alternatives when dining out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)