Coronavirus: BTecs pulled at last-minute, and hens rehomed in lockdown
Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Thursday morning. We'll have another update for you at 18:00 BST.
1. GCSE results due but BTecs pulled
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will get their GCSEs later, but students who took BTecs will have to wait after the exam board that awards them said it was going to re-grade this year's results. The 11th-hour decision by Pearson to bring BTecs into line with GCSEs and A-levels will affect around 500,000 pupils. The exam board has apologised for the disruption its decision is set to cause, but head teachers want it to explain why it made the last-minute change.
2. Public urged to get cancer checks
Singer Linda Nolan and TV presenter Bill Turnbull are backing a campaign to encourage people not to put off important health checks. Concerns have been raised that some are not getting potential problems looked at because of worries about coronavirus. Linda Nolan recently revealed she and her sister Anne had been diagnosed with cancer within days of each other. Nearly half of the public have said they had concerns about seeking help amid the pandemic. One in 10 said they would not contact their GP even if they had a lump or a new mole.
3. Leaving intensive care is only the beginning
Bob Morning spent two months on a ventilator at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after contracting coronavirus. He remembers almost nothing after being admitted to hospital having had a high temperature, which gradually got worse. But being back home is just a step along the road to recovery - many former Covid-19 patients struggle with everyday tasks like washing up, which is where the NHS's post-intensive care support teams come in.
4. Adventure breaks for NHS staff and families
Health workers have been given a break from being on the front line of the fight against coronavirus thanks to an activity centre in Berkshire. Forty families have had the chance to spend time together in socially-distanced groups - learning activities like raft building and making campfires.
5. Thousands of hens rehomed
A charity that rehomes chickens has had more than 52,000 requests for hens since lockdown began. Fresh Start for Hens saves birds that have reached the end of their peak laying years and would face being slaughtered. The charity says a shortage of eggs in shops during the first weeks of lockdown fuelled the demand for chickens.
And don't forget...
...loss of taste and smell are among the symptoms of coronavirus. Find out more about how it affects our bodies.
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