and how to interpret the government's public health guidelines. our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson, has been taking a look at some of your most common concerns. my dad's got a chronic lung disease, copd, and i would like to know, how dangerous is coronavirus for people like him? for anyone with a lung condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, there is a raised risk from the coronavirus. charities are advising that people take any medication they might need with them at all time, and really manage their conditions. the virus is dangerous because it attacks the tissues and airways deep inside the lungs. i'm wondering if, once i've had the illness and if i thankfully get over it, i will then be safe because i'll be immune? is that the case? well, the truth is we don't know, but it seems highly unlikely that you could get the coronavirus more than once. there have been a small number of reports from china of people

who say they've had it twice, but usually with a virus, once you've recovered, you have antibodies and they protect you in case you come into contact with another infected person. ijust wanted to know how long the coronavirus lasted on various surfaces? if somebody infected with the virus coughs in their hand and then touches, say, this cash machine, it's possible that it could become contaminated. and that's the same for this bank card and this money. it's estimated that it takes up to 72 hours for the virus to die on a hard surface, but it's slightly quicker on something like fabric. a huge amount is still not known. the first cases of the virus emerged just three months ago. but perhaps the best advice is the simplest — wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds, cough or sneeze into a tissue. if you don't have a tissue, use your sleeve.

throw tissues in the bin, try not to touch your face and avoid close contact with people who are unwell. for most people, this coronavirus infection will be mild. but for a small proportion, it is much more serious. these are uncertain times and we don't yet have all the answers. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. you can find out more about the symptoms of the coronavirus and how to protect yourself on the bbc news app and website. time for a look at the weather. here's helen willets. not great on the weather front. we have numerous flood warnings and rain on the way. the wind has been the main story today. we still have a lot of showers around and about

and the wind is still blowing a gale gci’oss and the wind is still blowing a gale across northern and the wind is still blowing a gale gci’oss northern areas and the wind is still blowing a gale across northern areas particularly. we had more snow today, winter returning across scotland. a wintry element to showers across the south wales hills. as we go through the evening and overnight, showers easing and still a bit more snow to come across scotland even at lower levels as we pick up an arctic northerly wind. as that sets in we will see the sky is clear. a sharper and more widespread frost in the north. a few icy patches where we will see late showers. tomorrow is looking a drier day, probably the driest of the week. not altogether dry because there will still be showers around, on the east coast and later developing in the midlands and later developing in the midlands and south—east england, and very late in the day the rain coming in to the west. although temperature is not much higher than today we have a lighter window more sunshine so it will feel more pleasant. not in all good news for cast because the rain will slip eastwards. there is

nowhere for it to go, the river is high underground saturated. a brief window of dry weather before the next band of wet weather across scotla nd next band of wet weather across scotland and northern ireland in particular, some dry weather coming across england and wales. milder air again so the snow will melt adding to river levels as well as more rain. it might stagger south across england and wales on sunday meaning the slow—moving weather front and significant amounts of rain potentially, one to watch. that's all from the bbc news at six. on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. goodbye.

hello, this is bbc news with... the headlines. there was public health crisis for a generation. the government steps up its response to the coronavirus and says there could be as many as 10,000 people already infected in the uk. anyone with any continuous cough or high temperature is told to stay—at—home for seven days, but the prime minister stopped short of closing schools or universities. i must level with you, level with the british public. more families, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time. the electoral commission urges the government to postpone local elections until the autumn because of the outbreak. president trump suspends travel from 26 european countries into the us, but not the uk and ireland, in a bid to combat the spread of the virus in america. welcome that moved by president trump caused global stock markets to plunge some of the new york stock

exchange was temporarily suspended after big losses, while in london, the ftse 100 after big losses, while in london, the ftse100 tumbled to its lowest level since the 1987 crash. in ireland, the government has closed down all schools, colleges, and other public buildings for more than two weeks. well, in a moment commit will be time for sports to come about, first, a look at what else is coming up this evening and bbc news. as the prime minister is announced, the uk has moved from the containment to the delay phase of oui’ containment to the delay phase of our response to the coronavirus. while at our beyond 100 days programme, will be looking on from spans of flights into america from the eu, for eight o'clock, we will be putting your questions about the new official advice to a range of experts. at 1040 at 1130, joined me for the papers, i will be looking at the reaction for the government's latest move on the front pages. that's all ahead and bbc news, but now, it's time for sports day.

hello, i'm 0lly foster, here's what's coming up on sporstday this evening. football carries on for now, fans can head to matches this weekend but for how much longer. formula 0ne's first race of the season, the australian grand prix this sunday is off after a positive case in the paddock in melbourne. i'm adam wilds, with the latest on another dramatic day of developments in sports across the globe, disrupted by the virus. also coming up disrupted by the virus. also coming up in the programme, there is another big crowd at cheltenham as the festival continues with a big uspet in the feature race. she thought she'd suffered a career ending injury but now katie 0rmerod is top of the world.

evening. all this week, we have been reporting on the response to the coronavirus, but this feels like a pivotal day in sport. the men's tennis tour shut down for six weeks, formula 0ne's opening race off, as is rugby union's pro 14, indefinitely, football is more complex, spain have followed italy's lead today, la liga like serie a, now suspended, let's speak to our sports editor dan roan who is at the etihad stadium, dan, manchester city's match was called off there last night because of arsenal players self—isolating, real madrid won't be i'm afraid that we've lost income dan is back, we will try to stick

with it, dan. big problems for football, but it carries on for now. that's right, yes, it does, but of course we also have the news today that three leicester city players have shown some symptoms of coronavirus and are also being tested as well. so the problem keeps escalating for football. government has come under huge pressure, hasn't it, in recent days, do not follow the decisions that we've seen in other countries around the continent and beyond to either close down and play sports behind closed doors or cancel or suspend altogether. and persist with this policy. now, they have always been consistent that the medical scientific view is that it would be right to continue for now, and today, that was given more detail when the prime minister and his medical advisers did say that they would be considering stopping

sporting fixtures at an unspecified time in the future, but not because they felt that mass gatherings like sports events were helping the spread of the virus, but rather because it may be a drain on public services. no commands to obscene, many people feel very uncomfortable with the fact that, for example, we have 65,000 with the fact that, for example, we have 65, 000 restores with the fact that, for example, we have 65,000 restores a gay going into cheltenham, with the that there are football match is being played this week, there is a six nations match at the weekend, and inevitably, and understandably, they are very concerned , inevitably, and understandably, they are very concerned, but the government's view along with the scientific view, they say is that it could be counterproductive if all that happens is that sports fans denied the chance going to stadium then congregate in the pub, or if you bring in that kind of social distancing too early, and expect people to maintain it for weeks and weeks, and therefore, the timing is key, but there is no doubt that you are right, given all of the events that have just in the last 24 hours

been suspended, one does sense that that moment is drawing ever closer, and sports is rapidly having to face up and sports is rapidly having to face up to the fact that an unprecedented peace time dislocation of its schedule is about to confront in this country as well as elsewhere, and there will be massive financial implications of course, there will be ramifications for what is already a crowded calendar, and i think from an emotional and psychological point of view as well of course, it will cause a huge impact, and it will be something that sports, it changes it for yea rs something that sports, it changes it for years to come, but these are unprecedented times. may be then this is the final weekend of so—called normality, because on tuesday, and incredibly important meeting that you wait for our holding with all of the associate member. that's right. they announced today it, 0llie, that they will be holding this meeting to whether or not suspend the leagues and i can tell you as well, we understand they

will also be deciding whether or not to postpone euro 2020 itself, the european championships, no less, until next summer. that would cause a real headache for all of the national associations and their are meant to be other tournaments of course being played next year, women's football tournament as well in this country, under age group competitions as well, that's one of the possibilities that's on the table to be discussed on tuesday, of course, ideally, they would still like to find some kind of way they can complete the club seasons, and competitions, and still be able to have euro 2020 across the 12 different countries that are meant to be hosting it, but it looks increasingly unlikely that, it ain't over a fact that that that year—long postponement is one of the most likely options that is due to be discussed, so that would simply be unprecedented in peacetime, as i said, it would cause a huge headache, not just for

said, it would cause a huge headache, notjust for the organisers, but for all the national associations involved. the countries hosting matches, sponsors, those who have bought tickets, of course, the fans, the teams, the players, incredible knock on effect, but, yes, that will be decided on tuesday. dan, or sports editor, many thanks indeed come alive at the eddie had in manchester city. so some big decisions for football, the opening race of the formula one season, the australian garnd prix in melbourne is off, that's after a positive case of the virus from one of the team members, adam wild is here. and adam, from the moment we heard that mclaren were pulling out because one of their staff had the virus, it seemed inevitable. that this couldn't go on. there has been no official confirmation as yet from f1 or the sports governing body the fia but the bbc understands the race will not take place this weekend. it follows a build up to the melbourne grand prix that has become increasinly complex and at times acrimonious. yesterday, we heard that three team officials were in isolation

after showing symptoms. then of course began the speculation that the race might be in doubt. lewis hamilton — world champion in the official press conference said overnight it was "shocking" that formula 1 was pressing ahead. that came before the news that a member of the mclaren team had tested positive for coronavirus. mclaren then announced — they were out — they withdraw from the race weekend.and now — the bbc understands — the whole race is off. 0bviously, early hours of the morning currently in melbourne but a very perculiar atmosphere — here's out f1 reporter jenny gow who is in melbourne. half of the fans i would say didn't come today, for anybody who lives locally, they can come for free on a thursday and experience what it's like in the paddock. it was very quiet. a lot of the big corporations in melbourne have said to their staff that they can't travel into

the