this is bbc news. the headlines at seven p: m. . this is bbc news. the headlines at seven p:m.. the deficit effects of coronavirus. pubs, restaurants and gyms are among the venues order to close as an unprecedented rescue package is unveiled for workers and businesses. the government will pay all employees, 80% of their salary, up all employees, 80% of their salary, up to two and a half thousand pounds a month. the chancellor said it was one of the most comprehensive settle m e nt one of the most comprehensive settlement measures in the world. life as we notice changing or magically, with the prominence urging people to stay home. it comes as scientists warned it could be almost 12 months before social distancing measures are lifted —— with the prime minister urging people to stay home. a major london

hospital becomes the first in the uk to temporarily run out of critical ca re to temporarily run out of critical care capacity for coronavirus patients. good evening and welcome to bbc news. the government has ordered the shedding of bars, pubs and leisure centres. many of the places we all visit regularly. it came as the chancellor, rishi sunak, announced a dramatic package of measures to help protect businesses, jobs and the vulnerable. we've never had state intervention like this in this country before, he said. rishi sunak said the government would pay up to

80% of people's wages and that's up toa 80% of people's wages and that's up to a maximum of £2000 a month for those whose jobs are at risk. and gci’oss those whose jobs are at risk. and across the uk, the prime minister demanded the immediate shutting down of the vast majority of places where we socialise and exercise. it came as government advisers issued a sobering warning that social distancing measures would need to be in place for the test part of a year in order to prevent nhs intensive ca re in order to prevent nhs intensive care units are being overwhelmed. the latest figures show that they have have now been... although experts think the total number is considerably higher. and there have been 177 deaths. here is our political correspondent alex forsyth.

this will become a familiar sight across the country soon. restaurants, cafes, pubs, shut as a result of this virus. for businesses, the key question, how to stay afloat with the doors closed and, crucially, what happens to all the workers with nowhere to go? today, the prime minister acknowledged the impact of this decision but claimed there was no choice. we are collectively telling, telling, cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight, as sooner stay reasonably can, and not to open tomorrow. though, to be clear, they can continue to provide take out services. from the chancellor, a promise to help thousands inevitably now facing an enormous economic struggle. we're 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 furloughed and 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. how long, if you can, do you see these measures lasting and how do you plan to enforce them? i think everybody can see the imperative of doing what is necessary, of protecting our nhs and saving lives. some businesses have already shut up shop. this salon in east london didn't want to spread the virus. despite rate relief, grants and access to loans already on offer, one big worry was still how to pay their staff. we are trying to keep them on the books for now, that was the last conversation that we had with them, and we have

just said that we will keep in contact with them, you know, while this all unfolds. we don't have loads of money in the bank. we have a little cushion but not much. the government is putting in place significant measures to try and counter the impact of this virus in just days and weeks, policies that would usually take months, if not years, to implement and with all of the knowledge that the decisions it takes now will have crucial consequences for all of us, as the way we live our lives profoundly changes. not doing enough means that workers, unwittingly, put the whole community at risk, because if you feel the need to go out and work because you have no alternative as a means of feeding yourself and your family, then you are going to go out. in scotland, an acknowledgement people will have to make sacrifices but a message that there is little option. doing everything we can to slow down the spread of this virus now means that we will save lives and we will protect our nhs. we cannot just carry on as normal.

life, right now, is not normal. london at lunchtime today. it may look very different tomorrow. the government is promising to help all those who will feel the impact of this announcement, as the struggle to manage this virus reaches a whole new stage. alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. today's announcement from the chancellor, and unprecedented intervention by the state into the private sector. 0ur intervention by the state into the private sector. our business editor diamond jack has been looking at the scale of the problem the government has been facing. —— simonjack. one of east london's popular social hotspots on a typical saturday. this is what it will look like this weekend. the government has just ordered the closure of venues like this, but its advice on monday to avoid them has already been catastrophic for the hospitality industry. after the prime minister's announcement on monday evening that everyone should avoid bars, restaurants and public spaces,

we've decided the next day, tuesday morning, we had to lose 85% of our people. a millionjobs have been lost in hospitality in 36 hours at the beginning of this week following that announcement. we're now focused on trying to save the jobs of the next million. in the last hour, the government promised businesses a rebate worth 80% of their staffs wages. despite that, businesses are still expected to shed hundreds of thousands ofjobs to cut costs as income dries up. on a normal saturday night, 2,500 people would come through this food hall, but it's now shut for the foreseeable future. and although the government has announced hundreds of billions of potential support, it's not size that matters, it's the speed with which businesses can get that support. and for many, it's already too late. like workers at this hotel in scotland who live on—site and were told to leave theirjob and their home immediately. i got this letter telling me i have to leave and i get fired. they didn't give me any reasons.

i have been working here for two years. in the middle of a pandemic, it's notjust a normal loss ofjob, it's a pandemic. and what about the millions of self—employed people, like theatre director cat robey and her colleagues who are trying to work out what the future holds for them? all of us are self—employed and we have no idea what that means in terms of our income, anyjob security, whether we can pay our rent next month, and we have no idea when any shows or any work will start again for any of us. the government has just announced the self—employed will be able to defer tax payments and get greater access to benefits, which will be increased. many businesses are also desperate for a guarantee they won't forfeit their lease if they don't pay the rent — another new front in a health—turned—economic emergency which has seen the greatest government intervention in private business in living memory.

that was simon jack that was simonjack reporting there. let's get more on this, and i'm joined by our economics correspondent andy verity. 188 yet again. just remind us, lies the government doing all this? the health emergency is not —— why is the government doing all this. the health emergency is notjust a health emergency is notjust a health emergency. in order to avoid the oncoming calamity, something urgent had to be done. we had mps, business leaders saying, this is not a regular recession, you can shed a few staff, you can retain your staff, you can survive. this is on a different scale and speed altogether. the suddenness of the drops of the income for many businesses, owing to the antivirus measures, the customers just not coming through the door, if you don't have customers, you don't have income, you can't pay your wage bill. there have been calls from mps and business leaders to do something to meet that need, so the temporary measures turn into permanent

economic damage, so that they have come up with is this job retention scheme which tells firms, look, if you've got problems play your wage bill, what can you do is apply to us and say, look, we got issues here. instead of letting people go or instead of putting them on unpaid leave, keep paying them and we will compensate you for it's up to 80%. and rishi sunak explain how it will work. i have a responsibility to make sure that we protect as far as possible people'sjobs make sure that we protect as far as possible people's jobs and make sure that we protect as far as possible people'sjobs and incomes. today, i can announce for the for seminar history... we are setting up a newjob seminar history... we are setting up a new job retention seminar history... we are setting up a newjob 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 employers will be able to contact hmrc fora grant employers will be able to contact hmrc for a grant to cover most of the wages of people who are not working but are furloughed and kept oi'i working but are furloughed and kept on payroll rather than than being laid off. government grants will cover 80% of the salary of attained workers up to a total of £2500 a month. that'sjust workers up to a total of £2500 a month. that's just above the workers up to a total of £2500 a month. that'sjust above the median income. and, of course, employers can top up salaries further if they choose to. there's a question whether employers will have the cash flow to keep things going in the meantime. obviously, it's apriltime to stop businesses, they will be worrying that they are not could you have enough money. yes. of the chancellor has done is given him another break by saying that vat can be put off, so businesses collect vat when you buy the goods and then they pass it onto the government. they administer it. with the government is saying to those

businesses, any business they collect vat, as you don't have to pay it, you don't have to pass it onto the government for the next three months. that frees up money to free up the wages until the skin gets off the ground. that is a sort of backstop. but there is a real issue for the self—employed. 5 million people, a lot of them connected any income if they don't leave the house. a lot of them worked around peoples homes. they've got a real problem. they have zero income now. they have gone from a good income to almost no income. the benefit system is where they would fall back and that is why they are also boosting the benefit system. whereas universal credit would have paid you every week in the past, now, they are going to pay you more like £95 from april a week. you will have hopefully your rent or some of your mortgage paid and you will also have that income. andy, thank you

very much. we'rejust have that income. andy, thank you very much. we're just going to have that income. andy, thank you very much. we'rejust going to bring you a little bit of breaking news thatis you a little bit of breaking news that is to us. this is confirmed by grant —— grant shapps. all driving test have been suspended. the government is spending on driving test for three months. key workers will still be up to take their tests. those who have had tests cancelled will have priority to have them rescheduled. grant shapps saying, aside from key workers, driving tests will be cancelled for now. as you have heard, pubs, cinemas and restaurants around the uk have been urged to close their doors in order to slow the spread of the virus. responding? ina the spread of the virus. responding? in a moment, we will be hearing from oui’ correspondence in a moment, we will be hearing from our correspondence danny savage who

is in harrogate, but helena wilkinson is in london. this area would be packed with londoners and torus. these are not normal times, so torus. these are not normal times, so it is deserted here. there is about 20 people in the square, a lot of the bars and restaurants already shot here. he said my behind us being monitored. there are still those —— the cinema behind us being monitored. the owners of these caps and pubs and restaurants tonight are digesting the news that, from tonight, they are being told by the government that they are going to have to shut for the foreseeable future. the restrictions announced by the government tonight another sign of the extraordinary impact that this virus is having on all of oui’ that this virus is having on all of our lives. that was helena wilkinson there in central london for us. now to danny savage, who has been in harrogate this evening. behind me is

betty's tea rooms. that restaurant has been closed a few days now. go along the main drag here in harrogate and there are at least four bars tonight which are still open and have always been open. that is not to say that drinkers in them are not socially aware. we talked to people sitting outside that said by sitting outside, they are socially distancing themselves. that thought they were doing the right thing by going out and having a drink. 0n the other hand, we talked to a couple outside the pub who said if their family saw them drinking aside he publicly would be in a lot of trouble, it would be criticised by their own families. a part of our lifestyle, our culture, is closing down this evening and we just don't know when it will reopen again. that was danny savage there. just an update coming to us from italy. it's been reported via the reuters new to agency that italy is closing all its

parks, that people can only take exercise around their homes. as part of for coronavirus research is being put in place by italy. the time is a quarter past 7pm. time for the headlines here on bbc news. the effects of coronavirus. pubs, restaurants and gyms are among the venues 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 two and a half thousand pounds a month. the chancellor said it was one of the most comprehensive set of measures in the world. life as we know it is changing. the prime minister urging people to stay—at—home. a major london hospital have become the first in the uk to announce that it had for a time run out of critical care

capacity to treat coronavirus patients. northwick park hospital... it comes as more than sexy 5000 former nurses and doctors in england, wales and scotla nd and doctors in england, wales and scotland are being —— more than 65,000 former nurses. here is our help editor the critical incident was declared at northwick park hospital late yesterday. because all specialist beds for coronavirus care were full, patients were diverted to other local hospitals. that incident alert was stood down this afternoon, but it highlights the strain across the nhs in london, as one doctor at another hospital explained. i guess if things get really bad, then there's the worry that intensive care beds will get completely full and further patients won't be able to be admitted,

or we'll have to make horrible decisions about who gets an intensive care bed and who doesn't, even though, in normal circumstances, we want to give them to everyone, and those can be really harrowing times. pressure on nhs staff is showing in different ways. finding empty supermarket shelves at the end of a long and tiring shift was the last straw for dawn. people who are just stripping the shelves of basic foods, you just need to stop it! because it's people like me that are going to be looking after you when you're at your lowest. just stop it, please! england's chief nursing 0fficer told me how sad she was to hear dawn's story. oh, it's heartbreaking when you see nurses across the country working 48—hour shifts, week shifts. they're working so hard

and they will be working even harder, i'm absolutely sure. but i'm asking for all supermarkets to open their doors for those that are working in health and social care, providing this expert care to our patients. this cab firm, in the east midlands, is offering free delivery of food to nhs staff, as well as those who are vulnerable. they say they made 300 deliveries in the last few days. a call‘s gone out to retired staff to come back to the nhs frontline. bridget worked for 38 years in the health service, mostly as a senior nurse, and is ready to return. it's a scary prospect because we don't know enough about this disease at the moment and, you know, ithink there's a lot to be learnt, but i think it's really important for me to go back in, and i think ijust have to take it as it comes. it's clear that nhs leaders are expecting immense pressure, as case numbers surge. that's why they want to bring back retired staff. but many doctors and nurses are very concerned about what they're

facing up to right now. and the work of staff was seen at first hand by the duke and duchess of cambridge, visiting an nhs111 call centre — one part of the huge effort being made across the service. hugh pym, bbc news. joining me now from the health servicejournal, he broke the joining me now from the health service journal, he broke the story of what was taking place at northwick park hospital. it's been a scrub is being overwhelmed. just how bad was it? what can you tell us about this, lawrence? we found out about this, lawrence? we found out about it earlier today. basically, some senior managers in the nhs in london had kind of received the message from northwick park, which isa message from northwick park, which is a call to help because their prickle care beds were full. they needed other hospitals to step in and be able to take some patience from them. the nhs has been

desperately preparing for this to start happening, but it's kind, it's come a bit sooner than suggested. the modelling suggested we work a couple of weeks away from this sort of demand, but, and so it has got a few people scared to. when we talk about critical care capacity, what exactly about critical care capacity, what exa ctly d oes about critical care capacity, what exactly does that mean? it means beds and staff essentially, and the vital equipment like ventilating machines. ok. and how do they solve it? because we understand that status has now been downgraded. do we know how it was solved? as i understand it, they have been able to open some more beds. have not given any further detail on that, so it may be that they have managed to get some more ventilation machines in orsimply kind get some more ventilation machines in or simply kind of had enough time 110w in or simply kind of had enough time now to repurpose it and another kind

of order into a critical care unit. we all know about that blocking and not having enough beds in hospitals. surely, as we take that forward, thatis surely, as we take that forward, that is talking about social care within the community, because the only way you can empty beds is to just charge patients —— discharge patients? yes. and we have had reports of care homes and nursing homes not taking patients unless they have been tested for coronavirus, which is not the national guidance at the moment, and the nhs does not have enough testing kits to do that. and so there is some kind of tension arising therebetween hospitals and the nursing homes and hopefully that gets sorted out soon. as i understand it, northwick park works with other hospitals in the area.

just how much pressure is there? because it appears there is something of a poster across north london in terms of coronavirus cases? the person i spoke to today, a senior person in a hospital in london, said they did not know why this was but the hospitals in outer london seem to be under much more pressure than the ones in central london at the moment stop from hillingdon to greenwich, up to epsom, up to barnet, they seem to be struggling and two weeks and over the rest of the country is going to be. a sign of things to come, not just at northwick park. there are some talks of staff being retrained. can you tell us about how long some thing like that takes? normally, to

train someone in critical care and anaesthesia takes years, but augustine this is an emergency situation and so they are having to do what they can within weeks and train staff that are normally doing nonurgent operations, surgery or medical treatments, to learn how to do critical care. and so i suppose it is all hands on deck, really, and doing what they can. lawrence, it second row been having with the doctors at the hospital and around northwick park, what have they been telling you? —— in conversations you have been having. i think there was some shock at this week because the feeling was that there was still, at the very start of this, they weren't expecting london hospitals to be at

this point yet. it's of the country is still a few weeks away from the peak, then there are going to be problems, and there is also a lot of concern around the country as well because other regions, more rural hospitals, don't have as much critical care capacity as hospitals in london. so if we are starting to see high levels of demand out in the regions, again, that is good to be a big problem. ok, lawrence dunhill of the health servicejournal, thank you very much. thank you. the government's scientific advisers have warned that social distancing policies will need to be in place for the best part of a year. alternating between strict and less strict measures to help intensive ca re strict measures to help intensive care unit scope. it is in marked contrast to the prime minister's assessment yesterday that the uk could turn the tide of the disease in12 could turn the tide of the disease in 12 weeks. here is our medical

correspondent fergus walsh. intensive care units are overwhelmed in italy. there have been more than 600 deaths there in the past 2a hours alone. the only way to avoid that here, say government scientists, is to keep our strict social distancing controls in place for at least six of the next 12 months. that includes school closures, general social distancing and household isolation. the scientists are trying to prevent one huge peak of cases of covid—19 which would overwhelm nhs intensive care units. instead, there would be a series of smaller peaks spread out throughout a year. to achieve this, they would suppress and then release the virus, by turning the social distancing measures on and off like a tap to control the flow of patients into intensive care. they predict a two—to—three—week delay between measures being put into place and their impact

being felt in intensive care. the scientists estimate that 2% of those aged under 50 who get infected will need to be admitted to hospital, rising to 44% among the over—80s. warmer weather reduces flu cases, but the science is unclear whether the coronavirus outbreak will subside in summer. the fatality rate for covid—19 is very age dependent, varying from 0.01% — or one in10,000 — among the under—20s, rising to 8% — or one in 12 — among the over—80s. a vaccine could save millions of lives globally. scientists at porton down in wiltshire are playing a key role, but it's unlikely to be ready for at least a year. fergus walsh, bbc news.

schools across the uk have closed their doors this afternoon — with no clear idea of when they'll reopen. they'll be shut to all but vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers. there's also been more detail on how grades will be calculated for pupils whose exams have been cancelled, as judith moritz reports. it's not even easter and this could be the last school drop—off of the year. for the children, it's bizarre. for their parents — facing weeks of home teaching — it's daunting. have a great day! it can bring tears to your eyes if you think too much, so you kind ofjust roll with the punches and just do what you can, really. it's going to be hard. you're going to crack on with the jobs that you always wanted to do and never had time with, like gardening, cleaning and all that, but you have to combine this now with schooling. we've already looked through my five—year—old's folder and it's lots of phonics and i'm thinking, "oh, my god, phonics! what's phonics?!" for children in year 6, it's extra emotional.

this could be their last day of primary school. what will happen if we don't come back to school before we leave to year 7? we're not sure what's going to happen but, obviously, here at stjohn's, we're a community. some children will now learn at home. others, whose parents are key workers like nurses or police officers, will still go to school. both my parents have to work from home because they work in universities and all the universities are shut down. my dad's in the army and my mum's in charge of all the trucks that deliver food and that to shops. so, you're going to come to school, do you think? just over 10% of the children here will be in school from next week. we are providing a childcare service to make sure that our children are safe while their parents go about their really, really important and critical work to help the nation. and they'll be doing activities that look a little bit like school but, mainly, it'll be things like board games, making sure that they're doing some of the work that they're set by their teachers.

school playgrounds will be a lot quieter and pupils at home will face restrictions. though the advice is to allow children to play outside — even go to the park for a kickabout — the instruction is also to stop them from playing too close to other people and to prevent them from crowding together with lots of friends for long periods. for students in exam years, like these sixth—formers in bolton, there was news today that their grades will be awarded based on data including mock exams and teacher assessment. it's not as big of a deal when you're doing your mocks as, like, the real things and i think that'sjust, like, everyone thinks that way. so, i think it'sjust the uncertainty of what's going to happen. these year 11s should have their leavers‘ assembly in july, but their teachers brought it forwards. a small chance to celebrate, amongst so much upheaval. judith moritz, bbc news, greater manchester. now it's time for a look at the weather with helen willets.

good evening. after the sunshine for many today, the temperatures are already falling away. still lengthy nights, still long enough to produce some frost. quite widely for the coming nights although in the south, we're still having to clear that cloud slowly awake and the key winds. i will hold temperatures above freezing here but it is cold elsewhere. perhaps not such a hard prosper scotland and northern ireland nevertheless a noticeable chill first thing saturday. 0n ireland nevertheless a noticeable chill first thing saturday. on most two seasons in one day because by the time i get into the afternoon, away from the east coast where there is that keen wind at the south come i think we will appreciate the ten and 11. perhaps just a little i think we will appreciate the ten and 11. perhapsjust a little bit cloud in the southwest. with the approach of this very week weather front to the course of hundred into sunday, a high—pressure is clinging on throughout the weekend. it hangs on throughout the weekend. it hangs on into next week. perhaps a little bit more cloud for eastern scotland and eastern england sunday. 0therwise, and eastern england sunday. otherwise, a little bit less wind,

so feeling a little less chilly. hello. this is bbc news. the remainder of the headlines. the devastating effects of coronavirus. pubs, restaurants, and james are among the places ordered to close as an unprecedented rescue package is unveiled for workers and businesses. the government will pay all employees 80% of their salary, that is up to two and a half thousand pounds a month, the chancellor said it was one of the most comprehensive set of measures in the world. so life as we know it is changing dramatically, with the prime minister urging people to stay—at—home. and it comes as scientists warned that it could be almost 12 months before a social distancing measures are listed in order not to overload the nhs. and bea order not to overload the nhs. and be a major london hospital becomes

the first in the uk to temporarily run out of critical care capacity for coronavirus patients. and the cove na nt for coronavirus patients. and the covenant suspends driving tests for up covenant suspends driving tests for up to three months with the exception of key workers who will still be able to take their tests. we are going to stay with that story. driving tests are being suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak. this coming from the transport secretary, he announced that this evening and the exception will be key workers. let's get more on this. he can tell us more. the the suspension for us. we already knew that there were problems that we re knew that there were problems that were going to be restrictions on timetables for trains or other forms of public transport like bus service is our local bus services and we had quite a lot about the effect on the airline industry of their reduced

timetable now in the last 30 minutes, the secretary of state to be said that driving tests are also being suspended for the next three months, and the pt said this with a big decision to protect the public indignation's fight against covid—19. driving tests will be suspended for three months apart from key workers who would still be able to take their tests. he said those who have tests cancelled will have priority to take them land the systemic resumes at the end presumably in three months. now, i little bit of clarification is needed about that because driving tests, he did not mention driving lessons. and i at this point if the tests are cancelled, so are the lessons but i have asked the department for transport for some clarification on that and i'm waiting for them to come back to me. of waiting for them to come back to me. of quite as i have asked the department for transport for some clarification on that and i'm waiting for them to come back to me. of waiting for them to come back to me. of quite at the ict worker is being prioritised to take those tests, eve ryo ne prioritised to take those tests, everyone else unfortunately is going to have to wait and i am sure that's

pretty disappointing for many people, particularly of course those who might have been hoping for quieter roads to take their lessons and tests if other drivers were staying at home, unfortunately that's not going to be the case. how many people might be affected, according to the government figures, and the last three months, of 2019, more than 425 thousand practical contests were ta ken just over more than 425 thousand practical contests were taken just over three months and even more car tests, 472,000. given that one or two people might take more than one test ofa people might take more than one test of a three months, that's hundreds of a three months, that's hundreds of thousands of people. a lot of the people who carry out that less than oui’ people who carry out that less than our independence study are going to think there is my income, they will be concerned, that is been much reaction to this. myjob offer under the condition i got my driving licence, has there been some sort of reaction to this yet? we are waiting for a reaction from bb driving schools like bsm, about what is

going to happen as you mention, many of their driving instructors who are self—employed operate under franchise conditions, many of them 110w franchise conditions, many of them now do that, organise their own work with loaner driver as so they are probably going to be looking very closely about what the chancellor said earlier today about the support they can get and of course for many people, the car is a lifeline, not just my family but also for getting to and from where, some kind of care workers, those who work in the nhs, which early starts white finishes, ca re which early starts white finishes, care workers who go from peoples homes, home to home, so anybody waiting to take lessons to go into those industries, according to this they want to be affected everybody else that driving lessons are off for a while. the supermarket struggle to be keeping his shelves full and stockpiling, downing street has at its core for people to be considerate when shopping for food. the health secretary has appealed to

supermarkets to make sure that he workers in particular can get what they need. here we have a corresponding giving her analysis from the supermarket in south london. it has been absolutely manic, of course all our supermarkets this week with every cove na nt supermarkets this week with every covenant announcement, shoppers have been reacting and stocking up on everything and it's put a lot of strain under the system and of course the people now staying away from pubs, cafes and restaurants we will all be eating and a lot more at home instead of going out. and one a nalyst home instead of going out. and one analyst reckons up to 25% of the nation's caloric intake will be transferred from food and beverage companies to be supermarkets so we are going to see a sustained demand forfood are going to see a sustained demand for food but the are going to see a sustained demand forfood but the industry are going to see a sustained demand for food but the industry is stepping up. there is a huge amount of work only being done to get more volume through the food supply system. but, it does mean that we are going to have to shop a bit

differently over the next few months. retailers are streamlining their ranges so for instance, instead of that it may be down to six, it's not running out, it's going to be less choice, more quantity. to really focus on the core products. the other into it —— interesting thing is this huge recruitment drive that has been under way to help retailers cope. if you had it all up, the supermarkets are trying to take on the more than 25,000 temporary and full—time workers starting immediately a small army and a final message from the industry, if there is enough food in the system, we just have to shop responsibly. at the pandemic continues, pressure on the health service naturally mounting but it is not just our doctors service naturally mounting but it is notjust our doctors and nurses beating the heat. front line community pharmacists say they are also struggling, many in the south say they are being forgotten about

and even had abuse from patients who are demanding more medication than they actually need. we spent the day at one pharmacy in putnam. if probably the biggest most stressful moment ever. demand at pharmacies has soared.|j stressful moment ever. demand at pharmacies has soared. i am coming to pick up for four different people within the family. we have medical conditions so my mother is currently being in hospitalfor nine weeks, we are trying to isolate her at home as much as possible. what you see today in the pharmacy here is typical across the hall of the country. here, they had seen 60% increase on a day—to—day basis, in the amount of work they are having to do. it absolutely is not necessary. it is that play that role situation all over again. there is no problem with the supply of medication. we have

got eight pellets full of prescription waiting to be picked up. in an unprecedented move, like many other chemists around the uk, he had to shut up shop during the middle of the base and peter catch up. we have got a massive backlog of prescriptions where the doctors have dispense prescriptions normally we get them down into dispense and patients will come in and a couple of days what's happening now is because you're getting a background and patients are coming and asking for their prescription and it has not been dispensed and be happy to it urgently. i would like the public to be aware of what we do and the pressure we are under and understand that not trying to be difficult to help you. and a body that represents gps in the south is asking doctors and patients not to increase the length of number prescriptions for fear they will damage the supply chain. meanwhile, the section of the pharmacy is being turned over to help sort out delivering vital medication to the most vulnerable. as soon as you put the phone down to pick it up again because people are

worried about what is going to happen and how can we help them and are they going to go without but people just are they going to go without but peoplejust panic are they going to go without but people just panic and they want the reassurance that we are going to be there and we will help them. the message from pharmacists around the country as to bear with them, they insist they will not run out of crucial drugs, but our ageing is all not to panic. —— urging us not to panic. back to the music from downing street. that news conference that was held with the government shutting down all pubs and bars and restau ra nts, shutting down all pubs and bars and restaurants, what does that mean for the leisure and entertainment industry? michael is the ceo of the night—time industries association and hejoins night—time industries association and he joins me night—time industries association and hejoins me now. thank you for speaking to us, take us through what your association actually does. we area your association actually does. we are a trade by the bat —— trade body that looks after the maintained economy and advanced sector and we are open to not only crops and venues are open to not only crops and venues and bars and live spaces and

cultural spaces and pop ups but also the massive infrastructure of businesses that support the night—time economy and advanced sector and i remain premise is to maintaina sector and i remain premise is to maintain a sustainable environment for our members who are a massive pa rt for our members who are a massive part of the cultural sector in this country. what have your members been saying since the news was broadcast earlier today? what is the reaction? i think of the last couple of weeks it has been very tough since the pm announced that people should not go out to clubs or bars, there's been a downturn in trade. it's been difficult trading circumstances and what we have been doing is trying to get some clarity across all spaces on how exactly these provisions will work from the budget which was released initially, it also likely been drip fed the rescue package

which culminates in today as achieving a bit of a landmark and i've got to congratulate their pm and chancellor for bringing i've got to congratulate their pm and chancellorfor bringing in some support for staff in particular under the provision that was announced but there are some challenges out there. one is self—employment. we believe quite wholly that self—employment should have the same provision that the employees have. they put into the governing economy as much as anyone else and it's important and the other element is we need clarity in terms of landlords. because at the moment many of our businesses are lease is the idea for the next quarter and obviously would be downturn in trade people are struggling so we need clarity and intervention from the government to help us negotiate a better position whether it be a 90 day rent—free period or whether it be a

negotiation that allows us some space to manage the financial position because cash flow is king. so, for us it's a very testing time and we are absolutely focused. most of the industry is so focused on ensuring the public is safe and they have completely ta ken ensuring the public is safe and they have completely taken this within their stride. they are working hard to make sure that public health and safety of the customers are paramount. we are hearing based date of april as to when the access to the cash will be available for this. do you know if your back —— members will be able to survive until then? that timeline is massive with this. speaking to some of the smaller businesses out there, they will not last that time. we need to push the timeline up and we need to put pressure on that pm and the chance to ensure these provisions come into play in the next week or two and they can get access to this, many

have closed their doors and many staff have gone there have been numbers and several hundred thousand staff have been let go and many businesses are not —— i am speaking to had to close their doors because business levels have got so bleak. it's a massive challenge. what we need is intervention. thank you very much. as he had been discussing, that chancellor has announced what he called unprecedented financial support. saying government grants would be given to companies to help them continue to pay their employees. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. first off, what particularly caught your attention today in terms of what he said? certainly paying up to 80% of wages of workers who would

otherwise become unemployed, that was the centrepiece, what he announced today and in fact, that is unprecedented. it's never actually had that and in this kind of crisis the top priority has to be to keep people in work which what you don't wa nt people in work which what you don't want is for something like a short—term shop which the hope as they short—term shock but a shock that as causing activity to come to a halt especially on the back of the plumbing as the announcement about the closure of pubs and restaurants tonight. which means you do not want viable business is to let people call because that has a chance of making a shock into a long—term economic issue. unemployed people and of course we want to keep, help businesses keep the people and this isa businesses keep the people and this is a lesson that we learned because quite a few of those countries that a ten years ago and it prevented

unemployment from rising in those countries, it's a very welcome measure today. there is a lot of concern as to the general health of the economy, where do you think this is leading? this is really hard to say. we think and this is evident subject to a lot of caveats, the crisis here really is hitting in the last few weeks. that's the first three months of the year, at least for the first six weeks the economy was going along and even at that point you might recall the economy was stagnant. the national statistics office said january gdp did not expand. gdp actually has not expanded since october. so we are about four months into, five months into a stagnant economy. so, with the closure of faith is as an activity, that will see a contraction in gdp in the first quarter. the impact we still don't know what's going to happen in the

next three months, they will also be that we see negative economic contraction in the second quarter and that would be technically a recession which is again like to prevent this recession environment from getting worse it's absolutely essential that measures that we saw today. not just to essential that measures that we saw today. notjust to help people stay in work but also to some extent we need to see that more of this is to help the self—employed. people look at the measures over the last week, bears is another prominent feature which is to help viable businesses stay open, those are the kinds of things that can prevent a recessionary environment from asking. thank you very much. spain marked a grim milestone today. it's the fourth country hardest hit by coronavirus in the world behind china,

italy and iran and now the virus has claimed more than 1000 lives — climbing by 235 deaths in the past day. the latest statistics from the country's health ministry showed 19,980 confirmed cases of coronavirus. many british nationals are stuck in malaga in southern spain, from where our europe correspondent damian grammaticas reports. 0n the loudspeaker, warnings that hardly seems necessary and a half empty —— and a half empty airport. the q is for the flight to london people spending to get back while they can. the last think it's going. up they can. the last think it's going. up to £1000 i thought i would stick with ryan airand up to £1000 i thought i would stick with ryan air and try and find my way back. you are ok? who knows? in

the middle of it all we found jean, almost 90, here for the winter, she's already had three fights back cancelled. in wales, you know, she's getting upset. ijust want you home, mum! you should have come home before! phyllida is 86. her family have been begging her to come home,. i've got 20 grandchildren, 16 great, six great—great. i'm five generations. and they're all, oh, why don't you come home, you know? why don't you come home? and there is one thing she's looking forward to. hopefully, now, i;ll come home to a lovely roast dinner. a big slice of beef, with all the lovely cabbage from the garden. so, today, flights to the uk were still running. but next week, there may be even fewer, leaving tough choices for those still here. we have enough food for maybe another four or five days. because of her dogs, the only way alison thomson can get home is by ferry.

she worries about being on a ship with up to 2,000 other people. would that be safe? and she'd have to cross spain to get to it. so, i have been quite anxious this week. we haven't left the house since last friday. and getting back to the uk poses real problems for you? well, it's a 12—hour drive. we normally stop in madrid on the way and stay in a hotel, but now we've heard the hotels are closing. for those who do stay, even the beaches are now closed. these are difficult dilemmas thousands are facing. is it better to leave, before travel restrictions tighten even further, or stay put? where is the best place to ride out the difficult times approaching? damian grammaticas, bbc news, malaga. as millions of people stay at home because of the coronavirus, we're looking to the internet and to social media for advice. but there are concerns that misleading information is being posted and shared. the government says it's working with social media companies to clamp

down on false claims. marianna spring reports. social media sites and whatsapp groups are swarming with misinformation, everything from conspiracy theories to medical myths. so how do you use but misleading information about coronavirus online? you might see a social media post or message on your phone from a friend of a friend at a first glance looks pretty convincing but it might not be all that it seems. facebook user peter, who's 84, compiled information that went viral last month. this advice had been circulating online and, since then, has been copy and pasted across social media. he said... and... there is currently no scientific evidence to back up these claims and he's changed his post.

everything i posted i believe genuinely to be the truth and factual. i try to be as factual as i can. and if i am corrected, or if i discover myself that i have said something incorrectly, i apologise and i amend it. fact—checkers are constantly scouring the web for misleading posts. their advice is, "think before you share." think about how it makes you feel. if it's something that you instantly agree with or it makes you have a really strong reaction, it's making you really angry or happy or sad, then often, that's a tell—tale sign that you should maybe pause and do a little bit more digging. facebook, as well as the government, say they work to remove harmful content. as the first pandemic of the social media era takes hold, people are looking to public health bodies for advice they can really trust.

now, take a look at this. these are residents and care workers at bryn celyn care home in south wales playing hungry hippo whilst in isolation. the video was posted on the care home's facebook page and has since gone viral. well, we can talk now to the manager of bryn celyn care home, michelle williams who joins us live on facetime. what fun was that? where did you get the idea from? it was our lifestyle and activity be caught in the home, they saw something on the internet and thought they would just adapt it so that our residents could have a go at it and theyjust got on the it and get it and it was, they were, it

was such fun, it was so fun and that residentsjust was such fun, it was so fun and that residents just loved every minute of it. i suppose activities like that are it. i suppose activities like that a re really it. i suppose activities like that are really important, particularly for the end of —— elderly, not as mobile and in isolation. that is a normal day and we, that's how we are every single day of the year, 365 days. part of hallmark care homes who own the home as their strategy that residents live as a fulfilled lives as a do that sort of activity every single day. the residents were strapped and weren't they? yes, they were. how did they react to it all? you could hear the laughter. they we re you could hear the laughter. they were hollering and laughing and laughing and it was just such fun it was. how were they reacting to isolation to that measures that have been put in place? it's unfortunate,

it looks like we lost michelle williams but what a fantastic baby out and activity bear that they care home has put in place by their residence playing hungry hippo. if we get to michelle later we can perhaps go to her. in the meantime, it is meant to be the happiest day of your life but thousands of couples are facing uncertainty as to whether it there —— not your skin go ahead as planned over the coming weeks. the church of england says church weddings shed be limited to meet the of five by the a patient is to avoid nonessential social gatherings entirely. john has the story of danny and charlie who would to get today. nails painted, her hair done, cake baked. but debbie and charlie are not getting married after all. bound map —— by now we would have been eating cheese nibbles with our

pa rents eating cheese nibbles with our parents but not to be. they have been planning and saving since they are engagement 18 months ago but even though they are well, coronavirus has relenting their big day. we were having guests e-mailing and calling and messaging saying we are really sorry, we are either sick or had numerous comments —— family members who are saying we are at risk and we can't come and risk it. so that she was will go back in the boxes, waiting off, to minimise travel and contact and keep everyone safe. i felt so numb and then finally i called that amy and i cried i'm not ashamed to say i cried. i am so sorry. you must be guided. it is a sad situation cannot be doing this celebration. we realise it was the right thing. their insurance will not cover the

cancellation but their venue has promised they can rearrange for free next year. they say it just would not feel right now. it would be a rating without kissing and hugging each other which you know, friends and family we have not seen for a while. it's like oh hello, we have to stay away and maybe take boots or knock elbows and that would be the extent of it which will be a disastrous situation. on the wall, table decorations they made for the reception. this would have been our place name holders, a reminder of how things were meant to change this weekend. is that your name on there? yes. we still have each other, it's not like the and it'sjust a pause. so, instead of thinking of their own disappointment, they say they are spending their nonleading day thinking of others. it is weather

time. here is helen. after the sunshine for many today, the temperatures are already falling away, still 90 nights, still long enough to reduce some frost, quite widely through the coming night although the southwest have to clear that proud la and the key rains so that will hold the temperature is above freezing but it's cold elsewhere. that's not such a hard it's cold elsewhere. that's not such a ha rd frost it's cold elsewhere. that's not such a hard frost for parts of scotland but nevertheless a noticeable chill resting saturday, with two seasons in one day because by the time we get into the afternoon would the strengthening sunshine away from the east coast i think we would appreciate to be tenth and 11th. just some clout in the southwest and later the rest of night in ireland, with the approach of this very week weather front to the course of saturday into sunday but for most of the high—pressure is clinging on throughout the weekend and into next week, a bit more sunday otherwise a

little less wind itself feeling elected less chilly. this is bbc news. he had ninth at eight p:m.. the devasting effects of coronavirus — pubs, restaurants, and gyms are among the places 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. life as we know it is changing dramatically — with the prime minister urging people to stay at home. it comes as scientists warn it could be almost 12 months before social distancing measures are lifted in order not to overload the nhs. a major london hospital becomes the first in the uk to temporarily run out of critical care capacity for