good afternoon, welcome to this bbc news special about the coronavirus. we will be bringing you the prime minister's briefing when it gets under way a little later that afternoon. here are the latest headlines. protecting millions ofjobs during the coronavirus epidemic is expected to be announced shortly. more than 65,000 retired doctors and nurses are asked to return to work as a that gives a sense of the speed, health secretary reassures nhs staff they will have the protective essentially. in this matter behind equipment they need. in terms of us gives us a sense, i believe, getting the protective equipment of... just where the key locations out, the masks, and the other are, talk us through what this protective equipment, that is a means. london is pulling ahead of massive operation that is ongoing the rest of the country and these

right now. school is out, the gates are last nights figures, scotland released higher cases and there were close this afternoon on schools across close this afternoon on schools a cross m ost close this afternoon on schools across most of the uk, but some will only 322 and northern ireland has stay open for the children of key 80, wales is 170 but what stands out workers. after gcse and a—level is london, that big blob and you exams were cancelled, the government would expect london to have more says grades in england will be based cases and the rest of the country on mock exam results and teacher because it houses 16% of the population so there will be some assessment. no end in sight to panic concentration but actually, it is buying. front line health workers 40%, of the cases in london, they make a desperate plea for people to be less selfish. people are just are occupying a disproportionate number of cases and they are pulling further ahead of the rest of the stripping the shelves of basic country, last friday they were ticking just under a quarter and foods. you just need to stop it! they are nowjust ticking just under a quarter and they are now just ticking ticking just under a quarter and they are nowjust ticking over a third. london is notjust taking most of the epidemic, it is getting faster and faster. thank you very much for now. as we have been reflecting, gps are among the people on the front of this crisis and many are finding themselves under unprecedented pressure. they have had a change working practices and procedures to try to deal with the the government is preparing

to announce a new emergency outbreak and jim reed has package of measures, procedures to try to deal with the outbreak andjim reed has been procedures to try to deal with the outbreak and jim reed has been to a practice in watford. find out how aimed at protecting millions ofjobs during the coronavirus pandemic. they are getting on. come over to in what would be an unprecedented they are getting on. come over to move, the state would step in the window. i will hand you the to help pay the wages of private mask. come around the site. across sector companies to stop thousands of them going bust the country, gps have had to change during the shutdown of much way they the work. here a patient of the economy. it's understood that the workers involved will also be exempted with possible virus symptoms is from having to pay income tax. passed through the window. without in other developments... testing, which they cannot do in letters are being sent to 65,000 surgeries, we cannot know if she has retired doctors and nurses the virus. each surgery has a in england and wales, asking them to return to work to help deal different way of working. here, patients are told to self—isolate with the coronavirus crisis. and go to the nhs website. if they today is the last day at school need an appointment it is limited to for most children in england, just five minutes. the heart rate is scotland and wales until further notice. the government has now published its list of key workers who can keep sending their children to school — they include quite fast, actually. have you felt your heart racing? try not to cough health care workers, police and food delivery staff. is causing it. ok. i am going to get in the last few minutes

the government has released its plan you seen is causing it. ok. i am going to get you seen by the medical team at the for grading in england after gcse hospital. this may or may not be and a—level exams were cancelled. coronavirus, we cannot say for certain because you have underlying the grades will be based on mock exam results and teacher assessments. asthma, on your chest you don't sound wheezy at the moment but you the government say that "clear are quite short of breath so i want robust guidance" will be provided to get you seen just because of the to schools and colleges observations, i am slightly worried. in due course. i want the medical team to see. the the government has been advised that policies to limit the spread patient is sent to hospital. she was of coronavirus would need to be later given a blood test and an in place for "at least most of a year" to prevent intensive care x—ray but no test for the virus and she was sent home to recover. while units being overwhelmed. some other gps have stopped around the world, the death toll face—to—face work, this launch practice has split itself into three from coronavirus now stands floors. on the ground floor, in the at more than 10,000 — so—called hot zone, a small team see with 167 deaths in the uk. patients only with coughs, fever or we'll get the latest the shortage of breath. we are on the impact on business, working downstairs here and treating but first on the current situation this like almost a&e, nursing for the nhs, here's our health correspondent lauren moss. patients with flu, cough, those a rallying call to return to work. illnesses and a second team or the

letters are being sent to thousands cold doctors and we are trying to keep them clean on a second floor and they see the normal bread and of retired doctors and nurses butter gp staff we see every day. lumps, bumps and back pain. the in england and wales to boost the ranks while cases of the coronavirus continue to climb. staff in the section expect to get the letter will explain the virus at this point. the idea is what they need to do because they may need a refresher to then replace them with clean and we've got some online refresher courses and there will be some put doctors from the cold zone upstairs, in place where they need or those working from home. the to physically be there. message they want to get across to and then, also, critically, the public is to stay calm. for making sure they are trained most, this virus, if you catch it, especially in the areas that we need is mild and recovery should be straightforward. people need to look for dealing with coronavirus outside themselves and think about their neighbours, see if your local neighbour needs looking after who because this is a respiratory has dementia or is on their own, if illness, disease. medics who have left the profession there ever was a time for the big in the last three years are also society, it is now that we can do being urged to reregister and final year students could be asked to work something together. defeating this outbreak will take effort from all during the outbreak. some people have already sides. to do with what has been contacted me, many people have already contacted me and we got called the biggest challenge to the lots of people wanting to support us health service in its 70 year and wanting to come back. we are writing to them, they will get that this morning, we will then make sure that they are able to complete history. the necessary forms to get them back

on the register and we will invite them back into our hospitals in the next few weeks. a large proportion of those being written to our general practitioners or specialists. nearly half are aged between 45 and 64 years old. and one third are are asked to return to work under the age of 1m. as the health secretary reassures but not everyone is enthusiastic nhs staff that they'll about being asked back to work. have the protective gear they need. after three years out in terms of getting the protective equipment out, the masks i feel very out of date. and the other protective equipment, i would not be able to keep up that is a massive operation that is ongoing right now. with the it, the science, the general changes in nursing care and i would feel unsafe and i think schools out: the gates closed this that would not be a position afternoon on schools across most of the uk — i would want to put any patient in, but some will stay open having an unsafe nurse caring for them. for the children of key workers. the way we go about our lives after gcse and a—level is certainly changing. after today, school gates will close exams were cancelled — the government say grades in england to most no one knows how long for. will be based on mock exam results and teacher assessment. and from monday, rail companies will be running much reduced services. and supermarkets take measures despite limiting the number of items to prevent shortages caused shoppers can buy and dedicating

by people stockpiling goods certain hours for older customers, supermarket shelves are still being stripped bare. during the coronavirus outbreak. hospitals have been asked to free up beds and manufacturers to scale up ventilator production for patients who may become very unwell. let's ta ke let's take a few minutes to talk the race is also on to get protective equipment about one of the key issues on all out to nhs staff. we are seeing far too many health of this. it goes without saying workers infected in italy that these are anxious and it's just heartbreaking. times for all of us. we've been getting lots of questions so many of them are dying as well. sent to us about the impact do not let this happen in britain. on our mental health of self—isolation and social health workers, they keep on talking distancing — as well as the impact about them in military terms on mental health services. like they are the front line, we're going to do our best now they are not soldiers. to answer some of them now — the government is in negotiations on bbc your questions answered. to buy a new antibody tests to detect if someone has a ready had the virus and become immune and in a month, it's hoped 25,000 patients every day will also be able to be tested. uk scientists have today said some social distancing measures may need to be in place for most of the year to avoid overwhelming the nhs in what they've described

is an incredibly fast moving and developing situation. i'm joined by profjo daniels, psychologist looking how people can lauren moss, bbc news. deal with the stress and from the university of bath and abby dunn, a research fellow at the university of sussex — she worked on the paper: "how to talk to children this just to clarify on those figures, about covid—19. only in the last few minutes as nhs england updated the figures that thank you forjoining us. let's we've been talking about. in its latest statement saying that a start with a question i think that is quite representative of an awful further 39 people who had tested lot, what do parents tell their children now? i havejust told my positive for coronavirus in england, seven—year—old but she could be off i must stressed this is in england, school for weeks and she is have died. so the total number of absolutely devastated. how can we, deaths in england is 167, that is as parents, ease our children's the latest figure from nhs england. fears while we ourselves are also feeling uncertain. that is perhaps worth mentioning as well interesting, is trying to hide it that in terms of the latest number from a children in a way.|j of deaths, people who have lost interesting, is trying to hide it from a children in a way. i think their lives to this virus are aged that we are dealing with a difficult time for both parents and children. between 50 and 99. we will keep you up—to—date if we get further details we need to come back to the core

ways in which we support and engage on that. that latest from nhs with our children's emotions anyway. england. we are also very much for ca ley with our children's emotions anyway. focused this afternoon what we are for caley here, it is about giving her space to express what she is likely to hear from the chancellor, feeling and for mum as well. it can rishi sunak, in the next hour or so. perhaps that package of measures be really difficult. we say this to which we will believe it is going to pa rents be really difficult. we say this to announce more support for companies parents in a clinic all the time, and employees. it has been described but when you are with your child, put a front on it, keep your emotions back and share them elsewhere when she is not around. as unprecedented, many companies have been warning they will collapse and then explore with a bit of with huge numbers ofjob losses. self—employed people and anyone on a curiosity, have a bit more of an zero—hours contract is of course already struggling. more from our understanding. when i think about this question, i think the child is economics correspondent andy verity. devastated, could we think, what it is about? is it the lack of social this is the normally busy victoria quarter in leeds. this is the centre of cardiff. contact, will she really missed her and this is glasgow. friends, for example? if you explore that with her, there might be some opportunities to think up a solution most companies can cope with a with her to deal with that. but it normal recession spot for thousands is about supporting her and her of companies hit by antivirus measures, it's up to 100%. this is uncertainty, putting a little bit of

a mask on your own for the moment and taking your uncertainty and oxford circus, normally one of the busiest places in the world but sharing it elsewhere. your thoughts today, just like other shopping areas around the country, there is on that as well? i echo those hardly anyone in the shops. if you're a business, it is simple, if sentiments, it is important for you're a business, it is simple, if you don't have customers, you don't have an income and can't afford to adults, where they can, to manage ifhe —— pay wages or service debts their own anxiety. we know anxiety does transmit to children as well. and if that keeps up you will have to let people go and declare adults need to find their way of managing stress and anxiety in the home as well. and some of what we bankruptcy. have already said, abby you touched business groups say the health emergency has now become an economic one. on some of this, another question threatening to push thousands about people, who themselves have a of companies into bankruptcy mental health condition, who are and hundreds of thousands having to or are worried they will of people onto benefits. have to self—isolate. it is a grim businesses across the uk thought at the best of times, not need to see action now. being able to see anyone at all, the we need to see an immediate suspension of vat, national uncertainty of the duration, how do insurance and business rate payments that are coming up next week. and we also need to see a form people who are already in a somewhat of income support as well. fragile state deal with self for those businesses that isolating, even if they know it is are going to be inevitably the right thing to do? self disrupted or have to close during the coming weeks.

it's notjust shops and restaurants isolation is a brutal thing for who are most obviously hit everybody. anybody who is at home at by emergency measures, the moment i cannot get out, it is this manufacturer makes mechanical and electronic parts really difficult. for people who are for industrial customers, feeling vulnerable, who are feeling high levels of stress and have it's still busy from orders placed mental health challenges, that will before the crisis struck be even more taxing and social but will struggle if the shutdown goes on for months. like every manufacturer we have isolation can be a really powerful the same concerns if we start pa rt isolation can be a really powerful to see significant drops. part in maintaining these struggles. in relation to people. that's the simple case we have to think about how we can for all manufacturers. it really is then see what direct government intervention we can see come as a community, try and engage to help make sure we protectjobs with each other. also to support and livelihoods so we come people and using technology they out the other side, have never used before. there is a fit, well and strong. government help for firms wage bills will cost tens of billions partnership in my local mental but won't help the self—employed. health trust, we are moving to try to speak to patients on video, this woman is a freelance theatre director, with no performance checking on them by phone. even so, as her income has plummeted. and people are at home and they for me personally it has involved quite a sad transition from closing don't have the ability to contact the building that i love to work out, others can try and reach to on at the moment with a core team them. jo, i am interested on your and all of us are self employed ta ke

them. jo, i am interested on your and we have no idea what that means take on that, but whilst i in terms of our income. absolutely accept what abbey says, job security. people are not interconnected in whether we can pay their homes, they don't have a our rent next month. laptop, they don't have broadband and we have no idea when any shows or work will start though they have a rubbish signal. again for any of us. not everyone is in a robust the emergency measures situation with technology, and then will effectively put how do they deal with it? it is an the government on a war footing, going into debt to help pay millions of private sector wages. important point. i guess we know the cost is huge. people who have a history of mental but the cost of not health problems may find it doing so both economic and human, could be greater. difficult at this time. it is a time andy verity, bbc news. where we come together as a let's talk to our political community. like it has already been correspondent nick eardley in downing street. said, the nhs is offering skype and telephone as options and most people everyone has heard so many stories do have a telephone. it takes for us now about people losing theirjobs to watch out for the people in the already, people suffering real community to see who are vulnerable and may need help. and those who do hardship. we have to hear something pretty substantial later, haven't we? absolutely and i suspect we have mental health problems, think about strategies for them and who will. i think the government is can be in contact and get in contact aware of those stories that we've with the gp if things feel too all heard now about people being laid off, about ours being cut, overwhelming. it is where we come

together as a community, think of businesses are facing imminent those around us and try to support closure as a result of the collapse them. there is a couple of in footfall that so many areas are seen as a questions, i should say that echo in footfall that so many areas are seen as a result of this crisis. we don't know exactly what the this. sharon is worrying about her government is going to do, but i mother, who has very bad panic think it's looking likely it will attacks. if we go into lockdown, involve some sort of package to help what she meant to do because being on her own is not an option? it businesses pay salaries and help echoes a question from nigel, who those individuals who need top ups says he has complex mental health to their wages. around westminster there is a lot of pressure on the issues, including anxiety and government to go far with this. self—harming. i don't know how to labour are saying that the deal with the panic buying in government here should do what we've supermarkets because it is hard seen government here should do what we've seenin government here should do what we've seen in many other countries and enough for me to leave the house, i potentially have the state promising am paraphrasing, but he doesn't know to pay up to 90% of salaries for how to cope with this. you are both some lower paid workers on a graded nodding profusely, abbey, your scheme that would see the state also pay the high earners as well. we thoughts on this because there is have had the snp talking about the some linkage in those questions? one idea of a universal basic income so that everybody around the country thing to do as much as possible, in has a guaranteed amount of money coming in every month to get them this phenomenally trying time is to through the next few weeks and months. and exactly what the package come back any strategies that we

have, any tools we have. people who that the chancellor has up his have, any tools we have. people who have complex and mental health sleeve this afternoon will involve, challenges, parents struggling with we are not totally sure. we should maintaining boundaries with their kids, we do have any resources and know that within the next couple of hours. but it is also worth bearing we need to use them. but i agree, in mind how quickly these packages are emerging. i was standing in the there are some people for whom this street just over a are emerging. i was standing in the streetjust over a week ago for are emerging. i was standing in the street just over a week ago for the budget, and the amount of money that couldn't be a more destabilising was thrown at this issue then was situation to be in. i think that is seen as was thrown at this issue then was seen as huge. we've seen rishi sunak back again on monday with another about where the services around them are trying to provide the support. i package for business, and as i say, and a couple of hours, we will know don't think there is a clear answer what the next package is to try to on how we can support the most help individuals around the country vulnerable people at this time. i who are facing those problems with wish there was, but it is about wages and unemployment. exactly, you using the skills you have already, took the words out of my mouth, did if you have them. i want to talk they government think, given we've about the strategies, if you have a had two big statements from rishi mental health difficulties or not, there are practical things to look sunak in the not—too—distant past, it has it been taken by surprise by the number of people who have already lost work? did theyjust not after our emotional well—being. stick to routines, get up at the

fathom it? what is driving today's same time, have structure, but variation within that so watching announcement? different tv programmes or doing there has been some political criticism that the government should different tv programmes or doing different activities. sleep is so have gone further and quicker. the important for our mental health. i would recommend people go to bed at view of number ten is they need to the same time, get up at the same move on things when they start time. they are basic things, but it happening. think how things have helps dampen down the anxiety changed in our daily lives since last wednesday, when the budget was. response. exercise is great for so many of the government raqqa adrenaline, for those feeling anxious. we can still do it at home measures that have been brought in, and we talking about the community as the government says, on science. coming together, there are free online exercise classes for all the government is reacting to that. kinds of different abilities. one of there is an element of the fact that the main thing is we should do, it is easy to see this as a you have had that advice earlier this week to say pubs, cafe is and catastrophe, but actually there can be some positives and benefits and other service —based industries opportunities within this. we can telling people to stay away from them, perhaps a bit quicker than engage in positive activities that can raise your move, things that are some people had anticipated. that meaningful and connect with people has had a huge impact on the ona deeper meaningful and connect with people on a deeper level that you haven't economy. and the government has said been able to before. interesting you consistently, it will do whatever is necessary to support businesses but mention exercise, because perhaps

there is a perception there might there is also a view in number ten come a point when lockdown means we that they are asking businesses and individuals to make huge changes to cannot leave our homes. but even in their daily lives and they need to countries where they have had be supporting them in an economic sense to make sure that is lockdown, you are entitled to leave manageable, i suppose for everybody. your house for the purposes of all right, thank you very for now. exercise. there is a recognition that will be important for the we will be back and talk more to obvious reasons and for our mental nick eardley when we get those health. exercise is one of the most details from the chancellor later on important things we can do for this afternoon. physical and psychological health. in the uk we have the national trust opening all the gardens which is a fantastic opportunity to connect the government has released with nature. we know from the the list of key workers evidence connecting with nature and whose children will still be able to go to school from monday. exercise helps our mental health and it includes... it also helps us to shift our focus onto more positive things, to not be thinking about the coronavirus all nhs staff, all front line health of the time and engaging with the ca re nhs staff, all front line health care staff and those working in the outside world. abbey? i am thinking medical supply chain. also teachers, who will look after the teachers who about children who are feeling very anxious at this time. getting them will go to school and nursery. also,

to do some exercise, it has the same public safety and national security impactand to do some exercise, it has the same workers including the police, impact and the same association of stress and anxiety as in an adult. i military and police prison officers. am in self isolation at the moment transport workers count as essential with two children and i have been workers. that includes transporting driving into the middle of nowhere freight as well as public transport. in sussex and letting them run food workers, including people in across fields, to let off some food production, processing, stea m. across fields, to let off some steam. if you do starjumps in the distribution, sale and delivery. living room with kids, just getting them to burn off some energy because also people working in essential financial services will be able to it will help them manage their send their children to school and anxiety as well. goodness, that is a people working in public service broadcasting are also classed as key lesson to all of us. a quick, final workers. just worth telling you that thought if it is possible to be that full, comprehensive list is swift. robbie says, he is concerned available on the government website if you think you are within that that the mental health toll of this category, contact your employer. across the country in the coming weeks is going to be greater than that is the advice. but the full list is on the government website, coronavirus itself. what are your as you might expect. we are talking thoughts on that and perhaps what we can be doing in some form of about that of course because this afternoon schools up and down the uk preparation, abbey first? it is such

are closing, with the exception we just touched on. a large question but i know collea g u es a large question but i know colleagues in mental health certainly are working as much as let's speak to our education editor branwen jeffreys. they can to be present now and we have had a lot of focus on exams prepared for the future. i think the basics we've been talking about for because if the schools are closed, everybody to take some responsibility for trying to manage so because if the schools are closed, so many children in such tricky circumstances, your heart goes out their own health and well—being... to them? it has been an anxious few ina way, days forfamilies, to them? it has been an anxious few their own health and well—being... in a way, we don't know what is going to happen, that is one of the days for families, anyone sitting fundamental aspects of the a—levels, gcses and btec, are all uncertainty. but the will of the cancelled because schools are closed and they have to concentrate on the mental health service is certainly co re and they have to concentrate on the core work they have to do over the there. jo, your thoughts? one is i next few months. we have had a few details, the gcse and a—levels, we would say that worry and anxiety at expect teachers will be asked to this time is really normal, we submita expect teachers will be asked to submit a grade for each people for should be self compassionate and acce pt should be self compassionate and each subjected exam board. that will accept it as a worrying time. be combined with the other secondly, we are fantastically information in the exam board might adaptable creatures, that's a really unique thing about us. the third have. in a—levels, they can look at previous gcse results. for gcses in thing, to protect us from those

england they can look at end of mental health difficulties to some degree, talk about your feelings, it's really important to talk to one another, talk about those fears, it primary sats test. they hope to helps get things in perspective and issue a grade by the end ofjuly. so improves our mental health. there will be some uncertainty for professorjo daniels and abby done, i appreciate your time, thank you children and their families. very much. there will be some uncertainty for children and theirfamilies. he there will be some uncertainty for children and their families. he will be able to appeal, that is being worked on. and also the promise that they will be a chance to resit, set let's bring you some breaking news an actual exam when schools reopen from our health editor, hugh pym — ata a "critical incident" has been an actual exam when schools reopen at a later date if you want to and feel the grades you have been given declared at a north london hospital because it no longer has don't reflect reality. scotland is the capacity to treat covid—19 patients. working on something very similar, a combination of teacher assessment based on mock exams, past northwick park hospital has coursework. they haven't spelt out exactly what they are going to do raised its alert status to this about appeals or exams happening at level as part of its continuity about appeals or exams happening at a later date. but some certainty for families there. very difficult time planning, for situations when it no longer has enough beds for some fine families. lots of to treat seriously patients. childrenjust finishing

for some fine families. lots of children just finishing their term, rash—mac to treat patients. —— to they year perhaps, when they didn't expect it. things will look very treat patients. an nhs source has told the bbc different on monday? indeed, not evenin different on monday? indeed, not even in wartime happy scene all that there are plenty of available schools close to most children. the beds at nearly hospitals message for monday morning is clear, and that there are precedents for sending patients to other hospitals during periods children should be at home, if at of heavy winter pressure. all possible, parents should try to make other arrangements as long as that relates to northwick park they don't include spending time hospital which is in north london. with their grandparents, who are the that is all we know so far. as soon most vulnerable group. those key workers you spelt out should be able as we get more details we will bring you more on that. to get a place at school and also also this afternoon if you have been vulnerable children and children who watching, good afternoon, you will have recognised, more serious know we are waiting for more details special needs. it is going to be tricky, head teachers are going to from the government, and we think we are going to get a new emergency have to see how many teachers they have to see how many teachers they have on monday morning and then package of measures aimed at protecting millions ofjobs during decide. it may be up to them to the pandemic. prioritise, looking at that list, as in what would be an unprecedented move, the state would step in to who gets in. they have to make a to help pay the wages of private sector companies to stop judgment call as to how many thousands of them going bust children they can safely have on the during the shutdown of much school premises with the stuff they of the economy. know they have available to them on andy verity is with me now. that day. they will be working their

we think we will hear from the way down, expect front line nhs chancellor in the next little while. staff in critical services to be top we've reflected a lot here about the of the list because that is difficulties businesses our faces, life—saving. of the list because that is life-saving. just to clarify, that people in the gig economy who have decision is up to the head teacher? lost theirjobs, people in the gig economy who have lost their jobs, what yes, they have been given a set of people in the gig economy who have lost theirjobs, what could we get here from rishi sunak? briefly, the priorities. we have had guidance from the unions, the head teachers problem they are addressing that you unions this afternoon, the national have mentioned there isjust problem they are addressing that you have mentioned there is just a sudden drop in income, the like of association of head teachers, which represents a large number of the which has not been known really in primary heads is saying, we suggest modern times, certainly in 100 you will have to work your way down yea rs. modern times, certainly in 100 years. a drop in income notjust of the list. we can give you some guidance, but you have to make a 10% or 20%, which most businesses judgment. are you able to stay open, can deal with by shedding staff are cutting costs in a normal recession, how many children can you take? i this isn't a normal recession, this expect over the next weeks we will economic shock is much more sudden see more centralisation within each and deeper than anything we've seen in our lifetimes. so they are trying area, each authority coordinating to address that because if firms do how many schools are viable to stay not have the income, they can't pay open, schools and pupils moving the wages, they can't service the around with transport available just costs a nd the wages, they can't service the costs and within a few weeks they to keep the basic child care and will either have to declare crucially, they are asking schools bankruptcy, they will certainly have to stay open through the easter to let some staff go. we have seen

holidays. yes, so no easter break some concrete examples today with for the staff. we are going to talk pret having to reduce staff because the principle of a primary school in just a moment. while you are here as they have had a 75% drop in income. well, a quick thought about what does it mean for childminders, similarly saying they need wage nurseries, what is being said about subsidies to employ people. so what we expect rishi sunak to do is what that sector? they are also being asked to close apart from to those mps were calling for yesterday and we've had calls from business groups key workers. childminders in for today, that the government particular, they are self—employed should step in and pay most of the and runa particular, they are self—employed and run a small business. many of them are very worried. although they wages of private sector companies are being offered business rate who have run into trouble. they might do this by throwing the tax relief for a year from april, they are being told they will have system into reverse, so fair pay as government funded i was, most rely on parents paying. many are asking you earn arrangements are used to pay money for the government, the money comes back on the other pa rents, on parents paying. many are asking parents, and some nurseries as well, direction. we don't know the exact can you keep paying something. a lot mechanism and we are expecting to of families don't know where they hear that in a few minutes. because stand financially over the coming people listening to that will weeks and months. of course, thank absolutely understand the need for it but the question is also, where you very much. our education editor, is rishi sunak finding it but the question is also, where is rishi sunakfinding the money? it's also noticeable, this changes branwen you very much. our education editor, bra nwen jeffreys with you very much. our education editor, branwen jeffreys with the latest on how that is meant to work. let's everything. everything we've been

talking about for the last ten or 12 talk to someone who is on the front yea rs, talking about for the last ten or 12 years, i would never imagine i would line of making those decisions. be sitting here saying we are going to nationalise the banks, know what iimagine the steph field is principal to nationalise the banks, know what i imagine the government would pay private sector wages, which is even of busilljones primary school in bloxwich near walsall — bigger, it's an even more serious they're staying open to children of key workers in the area. step for the government to make, thank you for your time. i hope you which would once have been regarded are able to hear what brangwyn was as counts by most conservatives. but saying because i think there will be people watching this this afternoon, they may also do other things when we have the announcement, such as people watching this this afternoon, people listening to everything she was saying and thinking, my goodness thatis was saying and thinking, my goodness extending tax holidays so employers that is one heck of a task for don't have to pay any national someone that is one heck of a task for someone in your position, to work insurance. there is no point handing through what you are going to do someone money and at the same time next week to try to provide some way trying to take it off them. what they are also —— what there also of safety and refuge for children of key workers. what work are you doing needs to be vitally is help for self people. the people hit hardest by right now on this? you are absolutely right. it has been a this crisis are people on low difficult week, having messages late incomes, gig economy workers or in the day as well so we have had to people who are self—employed. many of them have no income at all and they have never had to experience make daily decisions to support this and it could never have been families and the community. today, reasonable to ask those people to we have been prioritising the list, anticipate something like this. this

using and following the guidelines isn't their fault. therefore the that have been published and yes, it government can step in and boost the is trying to provide the care a benefits system or provide some other means of support so that the place for those children and vulnerable children next week. we economic shock they are going through doesn't translate into a have been creating a rota of staff second wave of redundancies caused and making sure we can put staff in by people spending less because safely make sure we have they'd have got less money. safeguarding in place and health and by people spending less because they'd have got less moneylj by people spending less because they'd have got less money. i am slightly boggled by the scale of safety is all in place these this, perhaps i'm right to be, children. as things stand today, how because it is unprecedented circular it is, you are right to be boggled, confident are you going into monday that you have enough teachers and anyone who is not gold is not helpers and everybody you need to saying! for example, how quickly make the system worked, how is it could money get through to looking for you? it is looking individuals? we all know people who really positive for me. i am not have already been laid off, there sure about other schools in the are people who right now, of last area, but my team have worked week, cannot pay the rent for much exceptionally hard this week. as we more than another month or the are part of an academy, our schools mortgage or can't feed their children, this is already happening. are part of an academy, our schools are in constant contact with each other so we are like a hub for each there is an announcement this other so we are like a hub for each other so we can rely on staff from afternoon from the financial conduct other so we can rely on staff from other schools within our academy as authority about those three month mortgage holidays, they are saying well. i am really positive about next week, i have a good team of the lenders should do them in a staff on rotors and on standby and i com pletely the lenders should do them in a completely uncommercial way, so

never mind if somebody is telling have back—up staff, just in case the you they don't have any income to inevitable happens and over the pay the mortgage with, you should still let them have a payment weekends, families have to go into holiday. you should defer the self isolation. yes, of course. what repayment of interest until later. are your teachers saying to you the government is asking banks to do about the fact that they are something that they wouldn't certainly going to have to work normally do and did away, that is through the holidays, no easter payback time for what 12 years ago. breakfor them, through the holidays, no easter break for them, not the full number of weeks they might have been all right! well, thank you much, expecting? that is true. we had to andy verity. we will be talking a plan in advance as to what is going little later as we hear four —— mike to happen. some of us will have our moore from the chancel. in advance of the prime minister's news break to happen. some of us will have our brea k early to happen. some of us will have our break early and then we will switch conference, jeremy corbyn has been so break early and then we will switch so temp staff will come in. it means speaking to journalists in the last little while, outlining what sort of support measures he feels are needed some teams will be on self in the next little while from the isolation, some will be on holiday and some teams will be working in chancellor. he's got to do a great deal and he's the school and then we will rotate got to do it very, very quickly. it. we wish you and your team all there are people losing theirjobs now, just —— notjust those on the very best and fantastic work he zero—hours contracts were not being will be doing. but all the very best called in to work but people in work to all of you and thank you very being given notice their work is much. wejust had a little bit of

finished. in pubs, clubs, break—up as you might expect and you restau ra nts, finished. in pubs, clubs, restaurants, factories, hotels, they would appreciate we are talking to are not getting the protection they wa nt are not getting the protection they want and there are others who are all our guests via the internet, via webcams now for obvious reasons and self—employed, doing odd jobs, maintenance work, plumbing, electricity and so forth, who cannot broadband is not what you might want. but i think we got the essence afford to stay home and do nothing because they have families to feed. of what work principals of schools they cannot live on £90 per week, are doing now to try and give which is all statutory sick pay will offer, so they are going out to somewhere for children of key workers to go next week. work. so if they are carrying this disease they are putting us all at nhs workers are at the front line risk. it's up to the government now of the efforts to tackle the virus — to guarantee the economic security the peak of the outbreak could be weeks or months away, but staff of the entire population. that means are already under huge strain. this report from charlotte rose begins with one exhausted nurse dramatically raising statutory sick who broke down after being unable pay, to somewhere near the level of to buy food at the end of her shift, average earnings, doing that and asked people to remember those immediately, extending benefits to those that are not eligible at all who are caring for the sick. at the present time, there are too many of those, but also recognising i'm a critical care nurse. there are people who have no ability i've just finished 48 hours of work, to work and many others who are i just wanted to get some stuff actually very frightened at present, in for the next 48 hours. there's no fruit, they are either stuck at home frightened to go out and their there's no vegetables.

ijust don't know how i'm supposed to stay healthy. social interaction is complete the and those people, people loss. though community response is who arejust stripping very important. and there are a lot the shelves of basic foods. of people all over the country who with many nhs workers dealing with an unprecedented workload, are of people all over the country who a re really of people all over the country who are really responding in a wonderful way, supporting friends and the strain is starting to show. neighbours who are going through stress. it is a very stressful time. health secretary matt hancock this morning urged people jeremy corbyn speaking in the last to stop panic buying. little while. let's just turn our sobbing: just stop it! please! attention for a few moments to the i hope the video itself shows world of sport. that has been so very badly affected as well over the people the consequences of being irresponsible last few weeks. the olympic flame has arrived injapan, but there are with what you buy. growing doubts as to whether the there is a perfectly adequate supply of food in this country. games will go ahead as scheduled in it is not a problem and it's not tokyo. plans for the torch relay have been scaled back but up until going to be a problem. now the organisers of the olympic games and the paralympics have that is not the only concern. resisted calls to postpone them. many front line staff say rupert wingfield—hayes has more. there are not getting the protective equipment they need to stay safe. what we haven't had is anything to protect us from aerosol there may not be much surf transmission of the covid—19 virus. for her to show off in today, and that would be but for nao omura, every day now ffp masks and hoods.

which are in short supply. in the water counts. mr hancock said lorries took now she has her sights set new supplies to 150 hospitals last on a medal in the first ever night and deliveries to gps olympic surfing contest. and social care providers at least that was the plan would follow this weekend. until the virus arrived. but there are those showing their appreciation for nhs staff. offering places to stay translation: right now, i'm afraid. i don't know what's going to happen. and delivering food. we are doing longer hours. shops may shut earlier. the olympics is a dream for me, but we don't want to have a bad i know a lot of the shops have got olympics, so maybe it's better a lot of schemes for nhs staff to have the olympics as well as vulnerable and elderly when the fear has gone. people which is brilliant and we are being looked after. but it's just people, people need to stop panic buying. here injapan, you could be forgiven for thinking the health secretary is today asking there is no global pandemic. 65,000 doctors and nurses to come out of retirement to help to deal schools are closed, with the crisis, saying but apart from that, "your nhs need you." life is going on pretty much as normal, and it is the same with the olympic games. but many already working feel the japanese government insists they need more help too. it is full steam ahead for the opening ceremony onjuly 24. charlotte rose, bbc news. but there are now some prominent voices here saying as we've been hearing — that is denying reality. nhs england hasjust said that a further 39 people who tested in central tokyo, the brand—new

positive for coronavirus have died, olympic stadium is ready. taking the total number $30 billion has been spent preparing the city. of deaths in england to 167. but the former governor of tokyo three more have also died in wales. says the chances of holding the olympics this year are now tiny. the latest cases bring the total normally, just 10%. number of deaths in the uk to 184. unfortunately now. that's it, you know. that is the latest figure we have but cancelled, or postponed, 90%. from the health authorities. we have been talking a lot about the fact a that's awful here, i dare to say. sizeable number of retired doctors japan looks like it has the coronavirus under control. and nurses are being contacted now by the government to ask whether they can come back to work to help this was the popular omotesando district of tokyo today. ata time there was no sign of the social distancing or public panic that has they can come back to work to help at a time of such extraordinary demand. let's talk more about this. been witnessed across europe. our correspondent but experts say that does not mean richard galpin is here. tokyo 2020 can be held safely. it is quite a request and some will even if you could be successful have retired recently, but perhaps in controlling the disease injapan, some not. it is people who have if other regions like europe retired since 2017, so there is a and africa were suffering specific cut—off. it is a huge call from infectious diseases,

up specific cut—off. it is a huge call up and they are talking about 50,000 nobody could come to japan, because of the risk of infection, so we have to have a control nurses and 15,000 doctors. they are injapan, and we have to have control of the infectious also talking about getting medical diseases worldwide. stu d e nts also talking about getting medical students in, student nurses. so now, is it likely? very, very big numbers. ithink students in, student nurses. so very, very big numbers. i think that i doubt. gives you an indication ofjust the many athletes both here injapan scale of the problem that this and around the world, country and the world faces. these are now asking for an end to the uncertainty. like like nao—chan, they all desperately want the olympics to go ahead. recruits, there has been a mixture if it can't, they need of responses, but essentially they to be told soon. would be assessed for what roles rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, tokyo. they could play. if necessary, there would apparently be some training if they needed it, if they needed to get up to speed with some of the we were talking just five or ten minutes or so ago about that issues. what nhs officials are critical incident declared at saying is that they would make more northwick park hospital in north ofa london. it's worth telling you, that saying is that they would make more of a difference than ever before. has been stood down. in fact, it this comes also as the chief nursing officerfor england transpires the critical incident this comes also as the chief nursing officer for england has said the status that was declared at the this comes also as the chief nursing officerfor england has said the nhs is facing the greatest threat it has hospital did indeed last for 24 ever faced. richard, we will talk to hours but it was declared yesterday

evening because there simply wasn't you again later. we will stay very enough capacity at the hospital. but much with that. that has now been stood down. it didn't last for 24 hours, but no helga rhein is a retired gp and joins me now via webcam. longer in force at northwick park hospital in north london. we are what are your thoughts? are you keen to try to back? i am so willing to still waiting for the news come back. i retired a year and a conference at downing street. more details on the government's efforts to deal with the coronavirus half ago, i am and 67,1 pandemic. come back. i retired a year and a half ago, iam and 67, i have come back. i retired a year and a half ago, i am and 67, i have got some health problems, a bit of a let's talk to our political lung problem, buti correspondent nick eardley. some health problems, a bit of a lung problem, but i certainly could be at the end of a phone line. i've we have reflected a lot already, but just received the e—mail from the i guess we can't really underestimate the scale of what we gmc today, which points out what might be hearing over the next couple of hours? no, you're your reporter just gmc today, which points out what your reporterjust said, that doctors and nurses are called back absolutely right. we have heard from and that we would get a temporary so many people over the last hour or so many people over the last hour or so about these massive changes that registration, because that is the are taking place when it comes to biggest hurdle, we are not registered any longer. so a the health sector, when it comes to business, and today is about trying temporary registration with a licence to practise. and an to address some of those issues which individuals are facing, with

induction, then hopefully... a their salaries, their pay packets and more broadly with businesses who perhaps are struggling to pay channelling and what is the most salaries for staff members. we don't know what the figures are suitable work we can do. and many of going to look like, we will find them out in the next few minutes but us suitable work we can do. and many of us would be prepared to stop what i'm very struck by what you said at i think we can expect a significant the beginning, that you could perhaps play a role giving advice to package from the chancellor, who has people on phone lines. you are not acknowledged the fact it is a huge the first medical professional i've economic challenge. we have talked heard saying that today. is that about the health challenge but the economic damage is going to be huge about your level of confidence, is as well. we all know somebody who it about what you feel your best has been directly impacted, whether placed to do? just interested why it is reduced hours at work and some people being laid off. it will be i've now heard a number of medical interesting to see how far the professionals make that point and chancellor goes in saying the state say that other active practising is going to help pay the salaries of members of staff right now could be people who work for private released to the front line, if you companies, to make sure the economy like. yes, yes. it's a combination. keeps ticking over, over the next it is ourage, like. yes, yes. it's a combination. it is our age, we are obviously in a bit of a higher risk group than few weeks and months. there is a lot people who are 30. and it is of political pressure on this as

well. labour, the snp and other opposition parties have been meeting with the prime minister and other senior ministers, to say to them possible, medical conditions which we have, i have a lung condition, that we have got to get this right. it's not a major thing but it is just speaking to politicians today, something, bronchitis. sol there is a fear that some people will basically go broke, not have it's not a major thing but it is something, bronchitis. so i don't enough cash. but there is a huge really... i actually tend to be fear about the unemployment rate, look at what is happening on the quite good on the phone. and when continent as outbreaks of coronavirus progress. a real worry in westminster at the political world more broadly, that the you doubtless have been following unemployment rate could reach this, as indeed has the entire unprecedentedly high levels and nation in the last few weeks and you urging the government to do reflect on the fact that of the year something now, to make sure the ago, you would have been absolutely impact of that is mitigated. we will out the front line of what medical find out exactly what those measures are in the next few minutes. yes, professionals a re out the front line of what medical professionals are dealing with up and down the country, i'm curious what thoughts you have had about the once we know the policies and the sums, there will be questions about nhs, the staff, its ability to cope, how quickly help can be got to how it has approached this, the people. because there are businesses existence of enough protective that have already shut up shop,

equipment. what have been your people have been laid off. speed it thoughts as you have followed the coverage like everybody else has? will be one of the questions that is on everyone's lips? yes, you are i'm a very keen supporter of the nhs, i really think it's a fantastic absolutely right. it is worth bearing in mind there has been a lot system. and i therefore have hope announced already, such is the rapid progress with which the government that we all can pull together. it feels it has to keep updating its feels like florence nightingale plans. it was just over a week ago stuff. but i'm also aware it has when we had the budget, the £30 been run on a shoestring four years billion stimulus to try and mitigate some of the impacts of this crisis if not decades. and that is a on the economy. then on monday, problem. so i think of all the further measures from the chancellor we re further measures from the chancellor were announced in a press conference finances which have been released officially in the news, so much at number ten. we know already businesses are going to get rate should go to the nhs straightaway to relief, loan is made available but we have had so many people saying get people tested and so on. you that isn't enough. it doesn't go far have had the discussions around this. so testing staff is really a enough, it's not enough to keep employees on the box when suddenly bars and main thing. there is something i employees on the box when suddenly bars a nd restau ra nts employees on the box when suddenly bars and restaurants and hotels are seeing footfall absolutely plummets. wa nt to they need more, they say. that is

main thing. there is something i want to say which i feel is missing exactly where the government is so want to say which i feel is missing so far, which is some advice on going to be looking over the next half an hour or so. it will be interesting to see what else the people's personal things which they prime minister has to say. a lot of could do. because apart from hand conversations are happening about whether people are heeding the washing and social distancing and advice to stay away from places like avoiding crowds etc, we can also bars and restaurants. certainly in look after our own health better, so london, i walked to work today and a that our immune system, our own lot of restaurants and cafe is open, defence to the virus, is in best some of them fairly busy despite the warnings. labour are saying, for shape. and one big factor in that is example, you might need to ramp it up example, you might need to ramp it up and eventually in the capital ban that the whole of the uk, or many some of those places from opening people in the whole of the uk, are altogether. also questions about the timing of this crisis, with the deficient of vitamin d. so this is prime ministerfacing not only for bones and muscles, but timing of this crisis, with the prime minister facing questions about turning the tide in 12 weeks. it is now well researched that it the scientific advisory group that plays a major role in the immune advises the government, we have heard some of the social distancing system. i've been campaigning for measures may have to be in place for that for some years, for the

around a year. there will be a sense recognition that we have a problem with deficiency. so this is of getting clarity out of the prime minister on all the issues, measures something people can look up and for employees and the measures for ta ke something people can look up and take themselves as a supplement. i'm wages. for how long this crisis sorry to cut you off, it is so good might last and for what is being to talk to you, thank you very much done to make sure the social indeed so much for your time. a distancing measures the government retired gpjoining indeed so much for your time. a is urging us to do voluntarily, retired gp joining us indeed so much for your time. a retired gpjoining us there indeed so much for your time. a retired gp joining us there from edinburgh. good afternoon, you are whether they will do more to force people to do it, quite frankly?” watching bbc news. later on this whether they will do more to force people to do it, quite frankly? i am wondering if you have been talking afternoon, we are expecting to hear to politicians perhaps from any more details from the chancellor, rishi sunak, who is believed to be party, anything actually, pubs, bars and party, anything actually, pubs, bars a nd restau ra nts party, anything actually, pubs, bars and restaurants should have been ordered to close? what business is announcing emergency measures aimed at protecting millions ofjobs during this pandemic and what would going to close down perhaps unless be an unprecedented move. the state they are told they have to. they need to make money? absolutely, you would step in to pay the wages of private companies to try to stop thousands of them from going bust. couple that with the economic impact we are waiting for those details, and companies are struggling to stay for that announcement, we hope to afloat. you can see where that hear more from the chancellor in the conclusion comes from. we had the next little while, alongside the

prime minister, boris johnson, boss of wetherspoon is saying he is next little while, alongside the prime minister, borisjohnson, at the daily news briefing. we will be not planning on closing at the hearing from them and as soon as moment because he doesn't think he that starts, we will bring that needs to, quite frankly. that is not straight to you. the view in government, that is not the view in government, that is not the view in government, that is not the view of the experts. the view of with me is adam marshall, director general of the british chambers of commerce, the view of the experts. the view of one of the uk's leading the experts is, stay away from business organisations. places where potentially large groups can gather. but there is a thanks for your time. what are you momentum amongst some in the hoping to hear in the next couple of political world that firmer action on that front needs to be taken. we hours from rishi sunak? we would had from the shadow health secretary, john ashworth, saying like him to come up with some bold and decisive moves to support our exactly that, maybe the time has business communities. there are many come now. all right, thank very much. tough decisions being taken up and let's cross live to downing street. down the uk and businesses and we have to get cash to the front and today i am joined by the chancellor quickly. so many firms have of the exchequer rishi sunak and chief medical officer. yesterday i employees and suppliers they need to pay and they are not seeing where the revenues are going to come from said the mission of this government to turn the tide of coronavirus over the coming weeks as we go into within three months and i want to a period of shutdown and social distancing. they are in need of that repeat that determination today. we support and we'd like to see the are going to do it with testings, chancellor bringing that forward medicines and digital technology soon. that will help us to see the disease

also i'm joined byjohnny kelly, who runs the fir trees hotel in stra bane. as it is transmitted and thereby the hospitality industry is so badly eliminating it, to stamp it out. hit, we know, just explain first of above all now, we are going to defeat this disease with a huge, all for our viewers what your situation is right now. yes, national effort to slow the spread by reducing unnecessary social absolutely the hospitality sector has been absolutely devastated here contact. i want to thank everybody right across the north of ireland. for following the guidance we issued on monday, to stay—at—home for seven our situation right now is that we days, if you think you have the are preparing for closure. we have symptoms, 14 days if anyone in your household has either of the informed all our 55 staff over the symptoms. a new, continuous cough or la st 24 informed all our 55 staff over the last 24 hours that the doors will a high temperature, avoid pubs, bars close for a temporary period tomorrow morning. we will further and clubs and restaurants, work from communicate over the course of home if at all possible. keep tomorrow exactly the impact on washing your hands. i know it has been tough and i know it has been staff, wages and remuneration going inconvenient, but these actions that we are all taking together or forward. so we too await the helping to take the strain off our chancellor's communication tonight, nhs. bit by bit, day by day, by your

and as already indicated, we do believe that it needs to be bold, it actions, your restraint and your needs to be exceptional, it needs to sacrifice, we are putting this country in a better and stronger be caring, as the government has position where we will be able to articulated over the course of this save literally thousands of lives of week. just to clarify as well, are you having to lay off staff, have people of all ages. people who don't you having to lay off staff, have you already done it? what is your deserve to die now, people whose approach to your employees well, my lives can, must and will be saved. approach to your employees well, my approach to your employees well, my approach to the employees has been and as we take these actions together and as we make these consta nt approach to the employees has been constant communication over the course of this week, we have sacrifices, we can see the impact on indicated the need for closure. that the real economy already. fantastic need has been brought about by the british companies already under huge everdiminishing need has been brought about by the ever diminishing business, primarily since the government announcement strain, big and small. workers, finding that theirjobs are under for all patrons to avoid public threat or going through no fault of places such as pubs, restaurants and their own. and to all of them, we, hotels. the industry has completely depleted over the course of this in government say, we will stand by week. it has happened at a very, you. i say that two companies, remember ourjoint objective to beat very rapid pace. therefore at this point in time, we do not have the this virus. and we will do business coming through our doors to

everything in our power to help and sustain a profitable operation. so injusta minute, rishi is going as faras we sustain a profitable operation. so as far as we are concerned, as from everything in our power to help and injust a minute, rishi is going to explain how we are going to help tomorrow morning, all of our workers of all kinds to get through employees have been informed that this crisis, supporting you directly they have been laid off from their ina way this crisis, supporting you directly in a way that government has never done before. in addition to the employment for a temporary basis. we package that we've already set out have indicated to them this could go for business. of course, these on for a period of 12 weeks. we say 12 weeks because the prime minister measures are intended, the steps yesterday indicated that's how long that we are taking are intended to be temporary. and of course, i am this particular situation could confident that in time the uk prevail for. we hope it is shorter economy is going to bounce back. of course it is. but i must be than that. and to make it very, very absolutely clear with you. the speed clear, we have had a very strong and of our eventual recovery depends profitable business and we hope to entirely on our ability, our get back there directly after the collective ability to get on top of period of 12 weeks. the market the virus now. and that means we hasn't gone away, the market has have to take the next steps on scientific advice and following our been suspended, for this period of uncertainty. adam marshall, that is plan, we are strengthening the

measures announced on monday which typical, sadly, for those workers of so typical, sadly, for those workers of you will remember. already people so many businesses across the uk. have made a huge effort to comply that is why this is a major with those measures for avoiding challenge for the government, isn't it? how does it pay for all this? unnecessary social contact. but we need now to push down further on absolutely right because what we are that curve of transmission between seeing in so many businesses, they have seen no seeing in so many businesses, they have seen no source seeing in so many businesses, they us. and so, following agreement have seen no source of income and they still have all these outgoings to pay. one thing the government could do extremely quickly and between all the four nations of the extremely simply would be to suspend united kingdom, the devolved some of the payments that businesses administrations, we are collectively need to make to the taxman. telling cafes, bars, pubs and companies are coming up on vat restau ra nts telling cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants to close tonight as soon payments, pay as you earn payments, as they reasonably can and not to national insurance, business rates, we need to spend those payments for open tomorrow. though, to be clear a period because all businesses that can still maintain themselves as a going concern would much rather be they can continue to provide take out services. we are also telling paying their employees and their suppliers rather than be paying anyone else at this particular moment. because that's what's going nig htclu bs out services. we are also telling nightclubs theatres, cinemas, gyms to keep the economy going. johnny and leisure centres to close on the kelly, what about those measures the chancellor announced a few days ago,

and lots of loans on offer, was that same timescale. these are places package of any use to you and other where people come together and hoteliers you know? well, to be indeed, the whole purpose in many quite frank, i think a lot of this cases, of these businesses, is to notion of providing cheap money bring people together. but the sad thing is, i am afraid for now, right now, i do not believe it will physically we need to keep people help a lot of businesses. there is apart. i want to stress that we will no appetite out there in the current review the situation each month to climate to increase the levels of borrowing. what companies need right see if we can relax any of these now is support to pay their measures. listening to what i have workforce will stop the previous just said, some people may, of speaker was absolutely right, the government can do more things to course, be tempted to go out tonight. i say to you, please don't. suspend bills such as tax exposure you may think you are invincible, but there is no guarantee that you orto suspend bills such as tax exposure or to defer tax exposure, but the reality is now that most companies will get mild symptoms and you can wa nt reality is now that most companies want to know how to treat their long 00:41:49,467 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 serving employees, how still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to others. so that is why, as far as possible, we want you to stay at home. that is how we can

protect our nhs and save lives. to repeat, i know how difficult it is and how it seems to go against the freedom loving instincts of the british people. and i also know, i also know how much right now workers and businesses deserve the financial reassurance we are giving you. but we will get through this, we will get through it together and we will beat this virus. and to ram that point home, the more effectively we follow the advice we are given, the faster this country will stage both medical an economic recovery in full. thank you very much, i am going to pass now to rishi, who will explain some of the financial support for workers. thank you, prime minister. good afternoon. the

economic intervention i am announcing today is unprecedented in the history of the british state. combined with our previous announcements on public services and business support, our planned economic response will be one of the most comprehensive in the world. let me speak directly to people's concerns. i know people are worried about losing theirjobs, concerns. i know people are worried about losing their jobs, about concerns. i know people are worried about losing theirjobs, about not being able to pay the rent or mortgage. about not having enough set by for food and bills. i know that some people in the last few days have already lost theirjobs. to all those at home right now, anxious about the days ahead, i say this, you will not face this alone. but getting through this will require a collective, national effort with a role for everyone to play. people, businesses, government. it is on all of us. to

meet our efforts, i am announcing measures unprecedented for a government for this nation. our plan forjobs and incomes will protect people's jobs, offer forjobs and incomes will protect people'sjobs, offer more forjobs and incomes will protect people's jobs, offer more generous support to those who are without employment, strengthen the safety net for those who work for themselves and help people stay in their homes. the first part of our plan is to protect people's jobs. this week, the government has taken unprecedented steps to fight the coronavirus. we have closed schools, we have told people to stay at home to prevent the spread of infection. we are now closing shops, restau ra nts a nd we are now closing shops, restaurants and bars. those steps are restaurants and bars. those steps a re necessary to restaurants and bars. those steps are necessary to save lives. but we don't do this lightly, we know these measures will have a significant economic impact. i have a responsibility to make sure we

protect, as far as possible, people's jobs and incomes. protect, as far as possible, people'sjobs and incomes. today, i can announce that for the first time in our history, the government is going to step in and help to pay people's wages. we are setting up a new coronavirus job retention scheme. any employer in the country, small or large, charitable or nonprofit, will be eligible for the scheme. employers will be able to contact hmrc for a grant to cover most of the wages of people who are not working but are kept on payroll rather than being laid off. government grants will cover 80% of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2500 a month. that is just above the median income. and of course, employers can top up salaries further if they choose to.

that means workers in any part of the uk can retain theirjob, even if their employer cannot afford to pay them and be paid at least 80% of their salary. the coronavirus job retention scheme will cover the cost of wages, backdated to march the 1st and will be open initially for at least three months and i will extend the scheme for longer if necessary. iam the scheme for longer if necessary. i am placing the scheme for longer if necessary. iam placing no the scheme for longer if necessary. i am placing no limit on the amount of funding available for this scheme. we will pay grants to support as many jobs scheme. we will pay grants to support as manyjobs as necessary. and can! support as manyjobs as necessary. and can i put on record, my thanks to the trade union contracts, the cbi to the trade union contracts, the cb! and other business groups for our constructive conversations. we said we would stand together with the british people and we meant it. we have never had a scheme in our country like this before and we are having to build our systems from scratch. i can assure you that hmrc

are working night and day to get the scheme up and running and we expect the first grants to be paid within weeks and we are aiming to get it done before the end of april. but i know many businesses are hurting now. i have already —— already taken extraordinary measures to make cash available to businesses through loans, grants and guarantees. i can announce the coronavirus business interruption loa n coronavirus business interruption loan scheme will not be interest free as previously planned for six months, it will be interest free for 12 months. thanks to the enormous effo rts 12 months. thanks to the enormous efforts of our critical financial services sector, those loans will now be available starting on monday. and i will announce further measures next week on top of those the governor and i have already taken to ensure that large and medium—sized businesses can also access the credit they need. i'm also announcing today for cash flow

support through the tax system, to help businesses pay people and keep them in work. i am differing the next quarter of vat payments. —— deferring. no business will pay any vat from now until the end ofjune and you will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills. that is a direct injection of over £30 billion of cash to businesses, equivalent to 1.5% of gdp. let me speak directly to businesses. i know it is incredibly difficult out there. we in government are doing everything we can to support you. we are paging —— paying people's wages up to 80% so someone can be furloughed rather than paid off, to protect thejobs, deferring over £30 billion of taxes until the end of the financial year,

lending unlimited sums of money interest free for 12 months, abolishing business rates altogether this year if you are in hospitality, retail and leisure, we are providing cash grants of £25,000 for small business properties. the government is doing its best to stand behind you, and! is doing its best to stand behind you, and i am asking you to do your best to stand behind our workers. we are launching in the coming days a major national advertising campaign to communicate the available business support for businesses and people. please look very carefully at that support for making any decisions the lay people off. it is on all of us. we are starting a great national effort to protect jobs. but the truth is, we are already seeing job losses. and there may be more to come. i cannot promise you that no one will face hardship in the weeks ahead. so we

will also act to protect you if the worst happens. to strengthen the safety net, i am increasing today the universal credit standard allowa nce for the universal credit standard allowance for the next 12 months by £1000 a year. for the next 12 months, i'm increasing the working tax credit basic element by the same amount as well. together, these measures will benefit over 4 million of our most vulnerable households. and i'm strengthening the safety net for self—employed people too by suspending the minimum income floor for everyone affected by the economic impact of coronavirus. that means self—employed people can now access, in full, means self—employed people can now access, infull, universal credit means self—employed people can now access, in full, universal credit at access, in full, universal credit at a rate equivalent to statutory sick pay for employees. ta ken a rate equivalent to statutory sick pay for employees. taken together, i'm announcing nearly £7 billion of extra support through the welfare

system, to strengthen the safety net and protect people's incomes. and to support the self—employed through the tax system, i'm also announcing today that the next self—assessment payments will be deferred to january 2021. as well as keeping people in work and supporting those who lose theirjobs and work work and supporting those who lose their jobs and work for work and supporting those who lose theirjobs and work for themselves, our plan forjobs and incomes will help keep a roof over your head. we've acted already to make sure homeowners can get a three month mortgage holiday if they need it. i'm announcing today nearly £1 billion of support for renters by increasing the generosity of housing benefit and universal credit so that the local housing allowance will cover at least 30% of market rents in yourarea. the cover at least 30% of market rents in your area. the actions i've taken today represent an unprecedented economic intervention to support the

jobs and incomes of the british people. a new, comprehensivejob retention scheme and are significantly strengthened safety net. unprecedented measures for unprecedented times. let me close with one final observation. now, more than at any time in our history, we will be judged more than at any time in our history, we will bejudged by more than at any time in our history, we will be judged by our capacity for compassion. our ability to come through this will notjust be down to what government or businesses do, but by the individual a cts businesses do, but by the individual acts of kindness that we show each other. the small business who does everything they can knock to lay off their staff. the student who does their staff. the student who does the shopping for their elderly neighbour. the retired nurse who volu nteers neighbour. the retired nurse who volunteers to cover some shifts in their local hospital. when this is over, and it will be over, we want to look back on this moment and

remember the many small acts of kindness done by us and to us. we wa nt to kindness done by us and to us. we want to look back on this time and remember how we thought first of others and acted with decency. we wa nt to others and acted with decency. we want to look up —— might look back on this time and remember how in the face of a generation defining moment, we undertook a collective national effort and we stood together. it is on all of us. thank you. thank you very much, rishi. jenny, is there anything you want to say at this stage? perhaps you could help us field any questions from the scientific and medical point of view as they come. alex forsyth from the bbc? thank you very much. the measures you've announced will have a significant impact notjust on business but on people's lives. can you tell us, what has changed that has made you introduce these measures now? how long, if you can,

do you see these measures lasting and how do you plan to enforce them? chancellor, you talk about unprecedented measures you are taking, how can you be sure the tax and welfare system can cope to ensure the support goes to the people who need it and needed quickly? alex, what we are doing todayis quickly? alex, what we are doing today is really enforcing what we set out in the fourth part of our advice on monday. i think people made a huge effort in the last four or five days to comply. we saw big reductions in people attending some pubs, a lot of pubs across the country, a lot of efforts were made by people to reduce unnecessary social contact. but it was becoming clear that in order to drive that curve down, to reduce the unnecessary social gatherings by 7596, unnecessary social gatherings by 75%, which is what the science tells us we need to do to have an impact on that curve, then we need now to be making it absolutely clear that

we are going to enforce these closures, and so that's the pubs, clu bs closures, and so that's the pubs, clubs and bars and so on i mentioned, in addition to gyms, leisure centres and so on. now, how are we going to enforce it well, clearly, there are licensing arrangements that will make it relatively simple to do, should that really be necessary. i think in reality, and we will enforce it strictly, but in reality i think everybody can see the imperative of doing what is necessary of protecting our nhs and saving lives. rishi? alex, you're absolutely right to ask the question. when i here earlier i said it's easy for me to stand here and announce things, but i want to make sure the help i'm announcing can get to the people that we want to benefit from it. so

that's why, as we have thought about what we are doing, there are various ways you can design job support schemes and there are various ways we can get extra money into our welfare system to strengthen the safety net. we have deliberately focused on scheme design and particular policies that we know are easy to operationalise quickly. there are many ideas that people have about how to do all these things and we've been looking through all of them but i would put unrecognised thanks to the staff at hmrc and the department for work and pensions. they themselves will be under enormous operating pressure under enormous operating pressure under the coming weeks and months, like all of us and every business, so we as i said, we specifically designed this scheme to work in a way that minimises the operational complexity, and similarly with the welfare interventions we've made, we have deliberately picked those that are absolutely the easiest and most straightforward and require the least manual intervention. the daily

mail? thank you, prime minister. could we get to a stage where nhs workers have to choose who to try and save because there are not enough ventilators? and it is mother's day this sunday, are you urging people to stay away from your mothers, and will you seeing yours? on the first question about clinical judgments, doctors in the nhs and clinicians already have been making very difficultjudgments, but our objective and the want of this whole campaign is to make sure we flatten the curve, as we've been saying repeatedly over the last couple of weeks, but also that we lift up the line of nhs resilience and capability. that means there is a massive effort going on right now to ensure that we do have enough ventilators, enough i see you —— enough intensive care units. that is why it is vital that people follow

the measures we have outlined. as for mother's day, i think my advice would be that people should really think very carefully, irrespective of whether they are visiting their mothers, any elderly person who may be in mothers, any elderly person who may beina mothers, any elderly person who may be in a vulnerable group, it doesn't matter if they are necessarily over 70, the issue is whether they are in one of the vulnerable groups, think very carefully about the risk of transmission of the virus, and follow the advice, look at the medical advice. our follow the advice, look at the medicaladvice. ouradvice follow the advice, look at the medical advice. our advice is that elderly people, people with serious underlying health conditions, people in the later stages of pregnancy, you have to be careful about the transmission of the virus. and i'm sure people will handle that advice accordingly. and i'm in regular

contact with all members of my family. but i will be working very ha rd family. but i will be working very hard on sunday, i can tell you that much. i will certainly speak sending her my very best wishes and hope to get to see her. prime minister, there has been an escalation in the measures you have been recommending and advising and now ordering. are we going to get to a stage when there are further measures you are considering, including potentially limiting transport and movement of people around the country? and to the chancellor, will this wage protection scheme cover those on zero—hour contracts heulwen ar y maes fory! if so, given that so many of them do not have a set salary every month, how will the witches be determined and who will determine them? on transport, i don't know if you were here yesterday, transport is fundamental to our ability to deliver vital public services. i was pretty clear that we don't want to

immobilise the tube or major transport networks. it's just too important for the delivery of crucial public services. and on those, everyone who is covered by this scheme, covers everyone who is on the pay as you earn system through a company. we are publishing guidance shortly. depending on your particular contract, it might be different depending on who you are, zero hours covers a variety of different situations but it may be that you are on a pay as you earn scheme and have a set of regular earnings and it will be covered depending on your circumstance. i cannot generalise for the employment status of everyone but in general, our desire here is to cover as broad a range of people as possible, wanting to make it as compare heads ofa wanting to make it as compare heads of a scheme as possible for those in employment, which is why we haven't limited it by company, sector or size of business, we targeted it to do it as wide as we can. chancellor,

he have announced an extraordinarily large package today. do you have a sense of how much it'll cost per month and i presume it will be funded by borrowing? so can you guarantee this package will be available up to 18 months, which some of the scientific study suggest is the duration we might be facing? millions of children broke up today for the last time from school, could you be crystal clear about what children should and should not do from monday? can they go to the park, go to the playground and have play dates with their friends, i know there is a lot of confusion out there? prime minister, sky news has talked to a senior medical emergency consultant in a hospital in south london today and he is warning of the dangers ahead, the fact they are not set up for the huge amount of ventilators needed. the disbelief

they feel with the queues outside supermarkets with people too close together. they are worried we could be ina together. they are worried we could be in a situation worse than italy and upset at the falsely placed optimism they see from some politicians. what is your message to that? it is a significant intervention and our intention is to finance the package through the government's normal debt management operations. as we have already amounts to, the debt management office are to publish a comprehensive update to the guild financing remit and that will be donein financing remit and that will be done in april. and the dmo and treasury and bank of england are coordinating closely. treasury and bank of england are coordinating closelylj treasury and bank of england are coordinating closely. i think there should be some guidance published today from the department for education which has had clinical and scientific input. the basic strand

running through these measures is about social distancing and reducing the totality of our social interactions. it applies to children, just as the rest of us, but also there is a balance between maiming physical and mental well— being when we maiming physical and mental well—being when we are going through quite a stressful period for all of us. for children who are at home, a family or household group usually has the same sort of exposure risk. but nicely, it is ok for them to play together in their own home environment, kick a ball around play together in their own home environment, kicka ballaround in the garden, if they have one. we're not saying don't go outside but we are saying, if you go outside go in are saying, if you go outside go in a way which reduces your social contact. for children, there is a safety issue the safeguarding one. we don't want to suggest a small charge to go off on a solitary walk across the park, but with appropriate supervision, budding children, keeping two metres apart,

go out for a bike ride and that is fine. in many ways, we would encourage that. but there are some simple principles, make sure you hang on to your own bike, your own equipment and wash your hands regularly and if you have a cough and sneezes, use a tissue. all the things we have encouraging people to do. the weather is getting better, we want children to be exercising but to do so not in groups. one of theissues but to do so not in groups. one of the issues is, where you have team games, for example, it is notjust the game itself which can be problematic, so i would not encourage those, but it is the social element around it. if everybody turns up in shared cars, thatis everybody turns up in shared cars, that is not the thing to do. but if everybody tried to go to a cafe or re sta u ra nt everybody tried to go to a cafe or restaurant afterwards, not a good thing to do. cut down on the social connections. sam, on your last

question, i don't think anybody in government can be accused of underestimating the scale of the crisis this country now faces. it is perfectly obvious when you look at the gradient of the disease that we have a real threat now to our country, to the ability of our nhs to manage it and unless we get this right, we are going to see thousands of lives lost needlessly. but we have an opportunity, as i have said, to get on top of it and make sure we turn the tide. and to do that, we have got to follow the advice we have got to follow the advice we have been given. that is why we are taking the measures we are today and thatis taking the measures we are today and that is why we are vital that people do avoid unnecessary social contact. on that is why we are closing the pubs and bars in the theatres and so on, because we need now to stop the velocity of circulation of this disease. i made it very clear to the country we will take exceptional measures to do that. but we are also

taking exceptional measures to help and compensate those who are adversely, economically affected by what we have to do as a country. i think everybody understands the two halves of this. everybody understands that people in employment, businesses, workers, everybody is making a huge sacrifice now to protect the lives of people who are vulnerable to coronavirus. it is absolutely vital and right that the government should stand behind those businesses and those workers as well. that is what we are doing today. on your second point about supermarkets. i answered that yesterday and i make the same point again, ithink yesterday and i make the same point again, i think people should shop reasonably and considerately. we do have fantastic supply chains and we are having another meeting with the supermarkets tomorrow. i am chairing another meeting with the supermarkets tomorrow. they are very confident they can get the stuff from farm to fork, as everybody

should just shop reasonably and be considerate of others. francis elliott, the times? rishi sunak, you mentioned shops, will they be forced to close, didn't appear on the list that was mentioned by the prime minister? and jenny harris, that was mentioned by the prime minister? andjenny harris, can that was mentioned by the prime minister? and jenny harris, can you update us on how we are doing with protective personal equipment, that is something that is deeply concerning. mrjohnson, is something that is deeply concerning. mr johnson, can't is something that is deeply concerning. mrjohnson, can't you just say in simple terms, what you think about people who are ignoring the advice, he resisted the temptation yesterday to say they we re temptation yesterday to say they were behaving immoral. do you think if people are not following this advice, they are behaving immoral? just very specifically, the less the prime minister gave and jenny outlined as a specific list, i was

talking in general terms but there isa talking in general terms but there is a category places where social contact happens which is significant to the spread of the virus. i meant very specifically the places that she and the prime minister had referred to already. yes, it is very much those areas where people are gathering for social reasons. in many ways they are encouraging the spread of the disease by virtue of those establishments. restaurants, cafes, bars are where you are meeting but we recognise how difficult it is for people's lives. so having take out facilities means food supplies will continue and that applies very much to supermarkets obviously and other shops. it is leisure centres, if you are exercising outside, that is fine. but inside is not appropriate so their leisure centres will close. it is areas where you can imagine purposely for social gathering, which are the ones we are most keen

to reduce the social interactions. so, the country has a perfectly adequate supply of personal protection equipment at the moment, it encompasses gowns, masks, gloves and all sorts of things. there have been, ithink and all sorts of things. there have been, i think some differential deliveries, if you like, in some areas which has caused a degree of concern recently and that is resolved now. what we have done in the last 36 hours is set up an entirely separate ppe oversight and supply chain which allows hospitals, but we need to be clear, there are other workers in the care system who are equally important and will allow that appropriate management to ensure that the supply and demand is there. i think we do need to be really clear, this is an unprecedented health event for this country. so it is not unlikely we

will have found pressure in the early days were an individual hospital, or individual trust organisation has had to suddenly mmp organisation has had to suddenly ramp up its demand. at that supply is there and running alongside that is there and running alongside that isa is there and running alongside that is a call to arms of ventilators and testing as well to make sure we are exploring every avenue and opportunity to keep those supplies coming through. on your moral point, i don't want to get into moral name—calling and so on, but i do accept what we are doing is extraordinary. we are taking away the ancient right of free bone people of the united kingdom to go to the pub. i understand how people feel about that, but i say to people who do go against the advice we are giving, the clear advice we are getting from medical and scientific experts, you know, you are not only putting your own life and the lives of yourfamily

putting your own life and the lives of your family at risk, you are endangering the community and you are making it more difficult for us to get on and protect the nhs and save lives. if you comply, if people comply, as i say, we will not only save thousands of lives, but we will come out of this thing over faster. tom newton dunn, the sun newspaper. thank you, prime minister. by closing pubs and restaurants, is there not a considerable risk what you will do immediately is push many people into their own homes, they we re people into their own homes, they were just have big parties, you will not ban parties, or are you? what is your advice to young people not to gather in groups of a hundred and in the same amount behind closed doors? and chancellor, the one element of society you missed out with this is charities, the voluntary sector. although you are covering their wages, charity income is down 40% since the start of this in only a

couple of weeks. they have asked for a bailout as well, will you consider that? thank you, in terms of support for the charity sector, the significant business rate relief schemes we are operating in the last week or two will certainly benefit them. iam week or two will certainly benefit them. i am sure it will give them direct cash flow benefit and they are direct cash flow benefit and they a re covered by direct cash flow benefit and they are covered by today's intervention. which i would underscore, is significant. more support for volu nta ry significant. more support for voluntary groups, which is something iam voluntary groups, which is something i am actively talking to the secretary of state for communities about and as we try to look after the most vulnerable in our communities, we will increase funding for local voluntary groups to help with that. it is something we are actively looking at. but to underline more broadly, the scheme i have outlined today is unprecedented in scope and scale for a british government and it is an enormous commitment by us to british jobs and

workers, this is going to be difficult but we are with you through this and we are doing absolutely everything we can to support yourjobs absolutely everything we can to support your jobs and absolutely everything we can to support yourjobs and support your income is through this time. and on your point about young people, obviously we cannot forbid every form of socialising between human beings. of course we are not doing that. but on the other hand, what we are saying is that the risk is, not just for young people, but the risk is they will become vectors of the disease for older relatives with potentially fatal consequences. we ask people to think about that. that's why we are taking the steps that we are taking, the decisive steps we are taking, despite places that invite people to socialise and that invite people to socialise and thatis that invite people to socialise and that is why we have issued the strong advice we have. i really hope everybody takes it. we are going to have to wrap up now because we have more things to go away and do. two

important things i hope you will ta ke important things i hope you will take away from today, two important bits of news. yes, we are telling pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs to close, gyms and leisure centres, we are telling them to close. it is a huge wrench to do that. everybody understands that. it is heartbreaking to think of the businesses that will face difficulties as a result of the measures this country has had to take. but that is why we are also, simultaneously announcing a quite exceptional package of support. not just for businesses, but for individual workers. and our message to business is, we will stand behind you and we hope you will stand behind your workers. and to the country, this time it is different. we all remember what happened in 2008. this time we want to make

sure, as we heal the economic damage this is causing, that we put the people first. thank you all very much. extremely wide ranging announcements from the prime minister and from the chancellor, significant announcements tonight. some social and some financial. if you are just joining us here, that evening. a lengthy news conference and some very important announcements. let us recap briefly those key points announced by boris johnson. recap briefly those key points announced by borisjohnson. in terms of social measure has come up. restaurants across the country are going to close. borisjohnson said the measures will be reviewed on a monthly basis. although outlets will be able to offer home delivery services. theatres, cinemas also affected, night clubs, gyms and

leisure centres, also told they must close. this is having a huge economic impact in an effort to plug the gap in the economy. the chancellor announced the creation of the coronavirus job retention scheme. this will allow employers to apply for a grant, they apply for it via hmrc and it will cover wages. the grants will cover 80% of an employee's salary, up to a maximum of £2500 a month. those are the key points. let's talk to our political correspondent nick eardley in downing street. size of business, we targeted it to do it as wide as we can. a quick thought about the social issues, pubs clubs and restaurants to shop. the prime minister was asked what has changed the means you are now telling businesses to close? we didn't really get an answer on changed, but it is happening.

absolutely. there has been a lot of pressure for that to happen, certainly in london, if you walk around the streets just now, a lot of restau ra nts a nd around the streets just now, a lot of restaurants and bars are still open, still have a number of people in them. clearly the government now thinks it has got to a stage where to halt the spread of the virus it is essential to tell them to close completely. we do have a full list roughly of who is going to close. food and drink venues, pubs, bars and clubs, cinemas, gyms, casinos, museums and galleries, a huge change to how the economy is going to work. you might have heard the chancellor mentioned shops closing. that's not the case, that's not happening, i think that was a slip—up, number ten have been very clear that shops are absolutely not closing. but clearly, mixture of the scientific advice saying we need to do more to flatten the curve, to stop the spread of the

virus, and some of the pressure to make the advice clearer rather than just say to people please don't go to pubs and restaurants, now saying to pubs and restaurants, now saying to them, you can't do it, they are closing. also a clear message from the government that they don't want people to go out tonight for a final point or a glass of wine, the message is that comes in right away. for now, we will leave it there, we arejust going to for now, we will leave it there, we are just going to stay with that theme because talking about all the pubs and restaurants that must close across the country immediately. we can speak to our correspondent helena wilkinson who is in central london for us. i think you are in leicester square? if people don't know, it is a key tourist area, very busy. how many people have you seen? the prime minister said please don't go out for a last—minute friday night drinking session before all these rules come in. yes, it feels very

strange to be standing in the middle of leicester square, the heart of london, on a friday evening and it is nearly deserted. there are some bars that we've seen, some pubs around this area where there are still people in there and they are drinking, they clearly haven't heard the latest news. but there are a lot of venues, you can probably see the cinema just behind us, that is shut, it has been shut for a while now. there are lots of other restaurants and pubs around here which are com pletely and pubs around here which are completely closed as well. so it is very quiet indeed walking around the streets of london, and pub owners, restau ra nt streets of london, and pub owners, restaurant owners who haven't shot already are going to be digesting this news tonight and are going to have to follow the government's advice. we heard borisjohnson saying that he is telling, tonight, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafe is

all too close to night as soon as possible as they reasonably can unknot to open tomorrow. and also worth repeating as well, night clu bs, worth repeating as well, night clubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres also to close on the same timescale. this is going to be devastating financially for all these businesses, of course. and also people around this area trying to digest these latest extraordinary restrictions that have been announced in the last ten minutes or so by the prime minister. and a sign again, really, that these latest restrictions are an indication of just how the impact, the staggering impact that this virus is having on all of our lives. absolutely. helena, thank you very much. helena wilkinson in a deserted leicester square in central london. let's hear the reaction

from business now, and i'm joined by rain newton—smith, chief economist at the cbi. that scheme to pay the wages of employees up to 80%. well, your thoughts first of all about some really big changes there? look, it's a huge moment for the country. and i think first and foremost this is about protecting as many lives as possible. we've seen our health services and everyone getting behind the measures that the prime minister set out. but what i think is so important is what has happened over the past few days is businesses around the country, the treasury, the bank of england, the trade unions, what we've been doing is absolutely focusing on protecting as manyjobs absolutely focusing on protecting as many jobs and livelihoods absolutely focusing on protecting as manyjobs and livelihoods as we go through these coming weeks, and that is what you've seen. these are

people standing together to make sure we protect jobs, people standing together to make sure we protectjobs, and the treasury will now be paying 80% of people's salaries. if businesses are ina people's salaries. if businesses are in a position where they cannot keep them in full—time work. so 80% of their salaries will be paid. that is hugely important. we are also absolutely working with the banks, with uk finance, with the bank of england, to make sure that finance is available for every business, no matter what size you are, from a very small shop and cafe to the very big businesses. we are all standing together to make sure the health of our economy comes out of the other side of what we know is going to be a challenging time. as i understand it, there is no time limit on this, imean it, there is no time limit on this, i mean you will know more than me, but is the chancellor announcing something that could go on for months? i think for the moment, the support for people's salaries is for

three months but i think what's been very clear from the action the chancellor has ta ken very clear from the action the chancellor has taken is that he is prepared to do whatever it takes. that is sensible to have those measures in place for now because we have to see what happens with the virus and how long these social distancing measures need to be in place. i think for now, three months is enough. he's also been very clear, that will cover payroll from the 1st of march, obviously everyone will work hard to get the system up and running as soon as possible. the cbi and running as soon as possible. the cb! and others will play a huge role in that campaign to communicate to everyone, and that's what i would say to everyone whether you are a small business or a very large one, you can go to your bank and the government is backing ways in which you can find the finance you need to make it through these coming weeks, and we are going to help to communicate how those different mechanisms work. and in terms of getting that 80% of salary paid, it

is done by the employer applying to hmrc for a grant. do we know yet, is it clear, what about those people who have already been let go? we all know there is plenty of them, reg retta bly. know there is plenty of them, regrettably. if you are on the payroll as of the 28th of february and then you have been let go in that period since then, the company can apply for you on your behalf. so anyone who was employed as of the 28th of february who is on that company's 28th of february who is on that compa ny‘s payroll. so 28th of february who is on that company's payroll. so i think they have really worked hard to make sure they are protecting people who have already faced some really challenging times just because what businesses are facing at the moment. rain newton—smith, thank you so much. there is so much more i could ask you. i apologise, time is tight because we are heading up to the six o'clock news. the view of the cbi there. let's get some closing thoughts from our political correspondent nick eardley. just your thoughts, talking now about the

financial package, about the scale of this, the nature of this, a conservative government paying at least 80% of the wage bill for private companies. it is colossal, isn't it? something you would never expected from this government. clearly, the chancellor and the prime minister have decided that suchis prime minister have decided that such is the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus crisis that they have to take this really radical action. huge state intervention, basically taking on the payroll of potentially hundreds of thousands of people across the country will stop saying to them we are going to stand behind you to make sure that companies can try and keep you on their books for as long as possible. it is worth briefly mentioning some of the other things that were in there as well as the salary announcement. big increase in the amount of money going into the

social security budget, more money for people on universal credit, and also a bit more support for businesses on tax relief, on vat deferrals and things like this. this isa deferrals and things like this. this is a massive intervention from the government. nick eardley, in downing street. in addition to all those measures announced by the government in the last little while, there has been tonight a stark warning from the world health organization, which is saying that young people are not taking this outbreak seriously enough. speaking in the last few minutes, now director—general of the who said that young people are not immune to the virus. one of the things we are learning is that although older people are the hardest hit, younger people are not spared. data from many countries clearly shows that people under 50 make upa clearly shows that people under 50 make up a significant proportion of patients requiring hospitalisation.

today, i have a message for young people. you are not invincible. this virus could put you in hospital for weeks. or even kill you. if you don't get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else. i'm grateful that so many young people are spreading the word and not the virus. as i keep saying, solidarity is the key to defeating covid—19. solidarity between countries, but also between age groups. that was the head of the who. you can find out more about the symptoms of coronavirus and how to protect yourself, it is on the bbc news app.

and of course our website. much more full analysis of all those extraordinary announcement coming up on the six o'clock news. full analysis of that huge package of measures announced by the chancellor, rishi sunak, and also the prime minister, borisjohnson, saying that many, many businesses now simply must close across the uk. pubs, cabbies, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres must all close. more coming up shortly. —— pubs, cafe is. look at the weather now. not that much to talk about in the weather over the next few days, because we have got high pressure dominating the scene. the weekend looking pretty glorious but it will be chilly, a cold night and a cold breeze. the reason for it, the area of high pressure that will move across scandinavia and the

baltic states, bringing this fairly fresh easterly breeze. it will be strongest across eastern and southern coasts. this is where we will see temperatures most impacted. across the south, we have a weather front, it will tend to bring some further cloudy, drizzly weather the devon and cornwall police in dorset. also the channel islands. further north, clear skies, another cold one with a touch of frost, maybe not quite as cold as the previous night. we start off cold but bright, lots of sunshine for saturday. further south, the breeze will be strongest here. the cloud will tend to clear away from the south—west. a fine day for most places. temperatures reaching highs of 11 or 12 celsius across the west but cooler across many eastern coasts. through saturday night, staying dry, clear skies, we could start to see some

low cloud rolling in the north sea coasts. a bit of cloud perhaps into the south and for northern ireland. where we have the cloud it is going to be frost free. further north, a touch of frost once again. another chilly start to sunday. starting off with some grey weather across the east coast. that should clear away through the day and most places will be dry and sunny. a bit of cloud. quite a breeze blowing in from the east and the south—east, it will be cooler along southern and eastern coasts. high pressure still dominating into the start of next week, but we start to see france trying to push into the north—west, bringing increasing cloud into the north and west of scotland, outbreaks of rain later and turning windy with gales photo elsewhere, another try one with plenty of sunshine. temperatures ranging from around 8 to sunshine. temperatures ranging from around 8to 10 sunshine. temperatures ranging from around 8 to 10 sources. staying fine and settled throughout the week with the influence of high pressure, many places seeing the sunshine. it will remain on the cool side with chilly nights to come.

the devasting effects of coronavirus — pubs, restaurants and gyms are ordered to close as an unprecedented rescue package is unveiled for workers and businesses. the government will pay all employees 80% of their salary up to £2,500 a month. the chancellor said it was one of the most comprehensive set of measures in the world. today, i can announce that, for the first time in our history, the government is going to step in and help to pay people's wages. life as we know it is changing dramatically, with the prime minister urging

people to stay at home.