THE VIRUS IN BRIEF
THE Big Issue is to be available in supermarkets and other stores from today for the first time in its 29-year history in a move aimed at supporting vendors unable to sell it on the streets.
Sainsbury’s will stock the magazine in hundreds of stores and online, while McColl’s will sell it in 1,400 UK stores.
Vendors were told to stop selling the magazine last month because of the coronavirus crisis, with people urged to take out a subscription so funds could continue to be given to the sellers.
Lord John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, said: “Now, more than ever, we need your support.”
A TEENAGE girl believes her lovestruck boyfriend could be trying to walk 280 miles to see her after he vanished from his family home last Thursday evening.
Meg Rhodes, 16, of Pocklington, East Yorks, has pleaded for Owen Harding, also 16, of Saltdean, East Sussex, to “come home” after he went missing having been unable to see his love due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
She said due to travel restrictions he couldn’t take the train to see her and may have tried to walk instead. He apparently has no charge on his phone.
Owen’s mum Stella Harding said: “We want anyone in the Yorkshire area to report any information to police.”
Owen is white, 6ft tall, of athletic build, and with short brown hair.
HARDWORKING nurse Katy Wells was hit with a £70 parking fine at a hospital after being redeployed to deal with coronavirus.
Katy, 31, said: “It’s just really insensitive. Everyone here is at breaking point and feeling drained. So this is the last thing people need. I just felt shocked and upset.”
She was working at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff when she left her car in a staff parking bay. She found the ticket on her windscreen after a shift. Her appeal was rejected. Katy, of Bridgend, 20 miles away, is usually a dental nurse, and working as an auxiliary nurse.
A COUPLE used a video app to tie the knot after weddings were banned as part of the strict Covid-19 lockdown.
School sweethearts Ben Jackson and Sophie Austin got engaged in August 2018 and 200 people were due to watch them get married last Saturday.
But when the lockdown made this impossible, they gathered all their friends and family on the Zoom app, having the ceremony over video chat.
The loving couple live in Croydon and have been together for eight years after meeting in sixth form.
Miss Austin, 26, said: “It was amazing. Even though we didn’t have everyone here it made it more intimate and special. It shows how good Zoom is in this time.”