this is bbc news. the headlines... the uk is coming to terms with the closure of pubs, cafes a nd restau ra nts for an indefinite period, to help slow the spread of coronavirus. we are collectively telling... ..telling cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close. ministers are urged to extend wage protection to millions of self—employed workers who face losing their livelihoods. supermarkets in the uk hire thousands more staff to keep shelves stacked in the face of panic buying. 324 more people have died in spain from coronavirus in the last 2a hours. 1,326 people have now lost their lives in the country to the virus.

america orders people in more states to stay home. anyone flouting the restrictions in new york faces fines. australia's bondi beach is closed after large crowds ignore a ban on outdoor gatherings of more than five hundred people. china says there has been no domestic transmission of covid—19 in the country for 3 consecutive days. # islands in the stream # that is what we are...# in other news, the american country music legend, kenny rogers, has died at the age of 81. you're watching bbc news. we are broadcasting to the uk

and around the world, as we bring you all the main developments on the coronavirus pandemic. the uk has woken up to a changed way of life, as radical new measures aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus come into force from today, as much of europe has already been doing. it follows an announcement by the british prime minister that all public venues — including pubs, restaurants, gyms, theatres and cinemas — must close, with the decision set to be reviewed on a monthly basis. it came as the uk's chancellor rishi sunak announced a package of measures to help protect businesses and workers, including a commitment to pay up to 80% of people's wages — up to a maximum of £2,500 a month — to those whose jobs are at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic. across europe, lockdowns are becoming more stringent as the coronavirus crisis spreads, with italy and spain seeing the highest number of deaths since the outbreak began. in the us, more states are ordering everyone but essential workers to stay at home, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

anyone flouting the restrictions in new york will be fined. police in sydney have shut down bondi beach after crowds of people defied calls to practice social distancing. australia has banned outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus. meanwhile in china, there is a feeling there that the coronavirus emergency appears to be under control. 0fficials there say there has been no domestic transmission of covid—i9 in the country for three consecutive days. and in the last few minutes pakistan has announced it's suspending all incoming international flights until 4th april , we'll have reports from around the world, but first, simon jones reports as britain faces up to new restrictions. last orders have been called at the pub and nobody knows for how long, from london to birmingham, glasgow to loughborough, to try

to halt the spread of the virus. some manage the final pint before "time" at the bar. it is good, if it is going to get rid of the virus, then it is understandable. for us english persons especially, we all live for the pubs, i believe, and i think, if the pubs close, then the world isjust going to go insane. 0nly takeaway services will be allowed to continue. the situation will be reviewed each month, but the plea from the prime minister is for people to stay at home. you may think that you are invincible, but there is no guarantee that you will get mild symptoms, and you can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to others. normally at night at the weekend, these streets would be full of hundreds of people. now it feels like a ghost town. some pubs and restaurants had decided of their own accord to shut before the government announcement. but now all the others have been left with no choice. workers are facing an uncertain future, though the treasury is telling businesses it will pay 80% of wages

for employees who are not be able to work, up to £2500 a month. the business this week has been pretty much zero. scary, but i think this is when we need the government the most. um, i'm sorry... but there has been criticism that too little has been done for workers who are self—employed or on zero—hours contracts. as drinking and eating out is halted, the supermarkets are likely to come under even more pressure to try to cope with panic buying. they are taking on 40,000 new workers to keep the shelves stocked. the prime minister says the more effectively we follow the advice to stay at home, the faster the country will stage both an economic and a medical recovery. and to show how much pressure the nhs is under, the northwick park hospital in london was forced, for a time, to declare it had run out of critical care capacity to treat coronavirus patients. the incident has now been stood

down, but the belief is that stopping us from socialising will help save lives. simon jones, bbc news. 0ur correspondent leigh milner sent this report from a deserted leicester square in central london. iam standing i am standing in the centre of leicester square in london. just over my shoulder we have shakespeare water fountain. over my shoulder we have shakespeare waterfountain. a over my shoulder we have shakespeare water fountain. a handful of over my shoulder we have shakespeare waterfountain. a handful of people here enjoying the morning sun. the pigeons are still here. i have seen a few people take photographs of the centre, stunned by the quietness of the place. usually at this time in the place. usually at this time in the morning we see hundreds, possibly thousands of tourist, making their way to get here, the theatres, musicals, we have the ticket office closed. it is unbelievable to see. leicester square is the home of the west end.

an industry which brought in nearly £800 million last year. if my cameraman pans around, i £800 million last year. if my cameraman pans around, i am surrounded by pubs, clubs, cathy is, restau ra nts, surrounded by pubs, clubs, cathy is, restaurants, we have wetherspoons, tgi friday's, all with signs in their windows explain that they are close, following the announcement yesterday. of course it has been a time of uncertainty. the footfall has dropped so low and there has been lots of concern about employment. people obviously not coming in, buying merchandise, buying food and drinks. that means employers can't possibly be able to afford their employees and as we have already seen, job losses in the hospitality and tourism sector. but with the announcement yesterday by the chancellor that the government will be paying 80% of wages of those workers who are not working, it

seems as though there has been at least some relief. it is a package which aims to preventjob losses. it isa which aims to preventjob losses. it is a package which hopefully will effectively stop a crippling wave of redundancies. but as ever we have no guarantee. lots of people are concerned. those people in particular who are self—employed but hopefully yesterday was a turning point for the sector. there is a real sense that possibly this could be some sort of hibernation period for businesses. how long this will go on for, nobody knows but what we do know is that borisjohnson told us that it will be reviewed on a month by month basis. let's get reaction now to the government announcement that bars and restaurants are now closed with kate nicholls, ceo of uk hospitality. has a government gone far enough?m terms of social distancing, yes, we believe it has at the moment and in terms of providing crucial support

to allow our members to continue to pay their staff and make sure they can keepjobs pay their staff and make sure they can keep jobs open when we come out the other end, then yes, this is about package from the government. it has relieved a lot of crippling anxiety for business owners in the sector. hospitality is 10% of 10% of gdp and we are too big to be allowed to fail because the economic effects would be catastrophic across the country and for our community. this relies partly on if you are a pub landlord or pub owner that you extend the support provisions to your staff rather than perhaps the temptation to get rid of people fdr worried about long—term uncertainty? yes, there is undoubtedly the problem of long—term uncertainty. we ended that with the chancellor's

announcement because he made clear that if people have already laid off staff, or are in the process of laying off staff, until the support package comes through, they will get reimbursed and the payment will go directly from the government to the worker so worker incomes are protected. the key thing is we have a critical four week period protected. the key thing is we have a criticalfour week period before those payments start to come through in salaries and in the hospitality sector, people are paid on a weekly basis so we have some buy challenges to come in those four weeks to manage it. we will try our very best to manage and keep on everyone we can. the key thing next week is that for most of those businesses in central london you are seeing, they have quarterly rent payments to pay on wednesday. so we need the landlords to follow the chancellor's leader in providing support and critically, we need the government to extend the moratorium on debt enforcement for rent and leases so that those leases cannot be taken back by landlords and landlords are

equally protected while having their security seized. we need that moratorium on visa forfeiture extended from domestic properties to nature we have a chance of keeping people there and the chancellor's fantastic package when it comes in april. the owners of cafe is in pubs and so on, if they are able to do ta keaways, and so on, if they are able to do takeaways, have also got to be responsible about maintaining social distancing because some might say to their responsible of some pubs to stay open? absolutely. we are responsible as an industry. we were already in the process of closing down thousands of our premises and most in central london had already closed and we were castrating that out across the country when the announcement came. 0ur out across the country when the announcement came. our top priority has to be not only the health and safety of our guests but the teams who are serving them. some of those premises will be providing an essential community service for local residents was also key

public—sector workers, particularly in hospitals with people staying up to provide takeaway sandwich or coffee, then we can make sure the put in place social distancing steps in terms of queueing in the shop, having a distance between people in the queue, making sure that it has grab and go. no sitting around in the restaurants and coming straight out and now sitting around outside. equally, a lot of people are moving to contactless payment for everything. so we avoid money passing hands and having that contract. responsible measures are in place to protect our guests and our teams and we need to make sure that that continues but for a lot of people, the pubs, cathy is in restau ra nts people, the pubs, cathy is in restaurants you are able to continue to offer takeaway and delivery will provide an essential lifeline through the next three or four weeks, however long mistakes, three months, when we are having social distancing. those people who can't otherwise get any food or drink during their shift or need to have a

hotmail deliver to them at home. lot of comment on the fact that the self—employed haven't been helped as much. there are people in that bracket in your sector. what about them? people are worried about cash in their pockets now. net that is the critical issue. we are continuing to work with the government on that and businesses to see what they can do to support the contractors and freelancers who they employ normally through this difficult period. we all need to do with the chancellor said, work together collectively through this. it will be a time—limited critical period which we work together to get through and as an industry we can come out stronger and that means also working to support our supply chain and other small businesses within our supply chain. as soon as we all get breathing space we look to pass it on. many thanks indeed for your time today. an emergency package of measures announced by the british chancellor rishi sunak last night — the second within a week — has

been widely welcomed. it includes grants covering 80 % of the salaries of workers at risk of losing theirjobs. but there's concern that freelance, self—employed and contract workers aren't included — and will have to rely on benefits. the chief secretary to the treasury, stephen barclay, has been responding to those criticisms. i very much recognise we are in an unprecedented situation with the health emergency, working across political, working with the tuc, working with business leaders, working across the uk with the welsh, scottish and northern ireland governments to respond. the specific things we have done for the self—employed, so, we took measures for example to defer the self—assessment payment that was due injuly, we have taken measures to support individuals, so often the biggest cost for many people is their mortgage or rent, we have taken measures there. but the main thing we have also

done is to strengthen the safety net in welfare. for example, the minimum income floor that would mean that self—employed people who worked fewer than 35 hours would see that penalised in their benefits claim, we have not only increased the allowance under universal credit by £20 a week, £1000 a year, but also increased that and made it available from day one. we have made it easier to access, and we have also removed the minimum income floor, so it doesn't matter whether people are working fewer than 35 hours. so, some explanation there from stephen barclay and our political correspondent helen catt told me there is a recognition that more needs to be done for the self exployed. is a recognition that more needs to be done for the self—employed. speaking to mps this morning, some are saying yes, we recognise that perhaps more needs to be done for self—employed people. but there is also a recognition that logistically it is much harder for the government to work out how

to help them. so, with the people who are employed, who are going to get this 80% of their wages paid, that will be done through the paye system. even that in itself will take a few weeks to set up, because the government is designing a completely new system from scratch. and they are much easier to find, if you like and pay. so there is a recognition that it is harder to do that for self—employed people, but also they could be some of the hardest hit, some of the mps have said this morning. that is one to watch over the coming days. you heard stephen barclay, the chief secretary of the treasury, that they have asked banks to show forbearance whilst schemes are put in place. we will have to see what happens with self—employed people. one of the hardest hit industries, of course, is the airline industry. there are reports this morning of one perhaps radical step the government might take here. yes, this report is in the financial times this morning, suggesting that the government could perhaps buy equity in some of the airlines. we obviously don't know much more about that. earlier this week, it was suggested

by the transport secretary, grant shapps, that a temporary nationalisation of some airlines could be a possibility because there is a recognition that this is an industry that has suffered a double whammy, firstly from falling demand, but also from the introduction of travel bans around the globe. we saw earlier this week, the foreign secretary, dominic raab, advised against any nonessential travel outside of the uk for the next 30 days, so the airline industry has been particularly hard hit. we know the government is intending to offer some kind of help, but we will have to wait for the detail on that. the spanish government has just announced a 25% surge in confirmed coronavirus cases there. almost 25,000 people in spain are now known to have the virus. the death toll has risen by more than 300, with around 1300 people being killed so far. in germany, the number of confirmed cases is just below 20,000, including 68 deaths. bavaria has become the first state there to impose severe restrictions

on personal movement. but italy is still the worst—hit country in europe. it has 47,000 confirmed cases, including more than 4000 deaths. freya cole has more. green, white and red. the italian tricolour has been projected proudly onto the roman town hall in the nation's capital. it shines bright as a patriotic symbol, as the country battles one of its darkest periods in modern history. italy has again recorded its largest daily increase in its death toll since the outbreak began. in the northern town of bergamo, the army is being called upon to transport bodies from local hospitals to crematoriums in nearby towns. across the country, more than 4000 people have succumbed to the virus. hospitals and funeral homes are being overrun.

take one look at what is happening in some health systems around the world. look at the intensive care unit completely overwhelmed, doctors and nurses utterly exhausted. this is not normal. this is notjust a bad flu season. these are health systems that are collapsing under the pressure of too many cases. authorities are extending the lockdown. from next weekend, anyone driving in rome will be questioned by the police. the rest of europe is also scrambling to beat the rapid spread of disease. more than 1000 people have died in spain. authorities are in a race to construct field hospitals, fearing beds will soon run out in major cities. a two—week lockdown is now under way in the german state of bavaria. people have been told to stay at home as the number of confirmed cases spirals out of control. more than 20,000 people have

now caught the virus. cheering. every night in many european cities and towns, residents take to their balconies to applaud health care workers on the front line of this fight which sadly is far from over. 0ur correspondent bethany bell has been watching events from vienna. we have had new figures out on spain. another big rise in the number of cases and deaths. yes, spain emerging as one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak. that jump countries hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak. thatjump in the number of deaths over 1300 people confirmed to have died and we have heard from very senior health officials in spain, saying that the most difficult days are still to come. the health services there

really under enormous pressure. authorities scrambling to try and convert a big conference centre near madrid as a field hospital to treat people with coronavirus. a state of emergency has been declared in spain. people have been urged to stay at home for all but essential movement and we are beginning to see this as a pattern emerging throughout europe where i am in austria where i am in quarantine in austria where i am in quarantine in austria after having been in italy, there are restrictions on movement. we are seeing it in bavaria, over the border in germany and we understand that germany's chancellor, angela merkel will be meeting with regional leaders in germany tomorrow to see if the restrictive measures on movement should be extended to the whole of the country. you said about germany and another big change on the bavarian situation. every country and europe, including the uk, is it and europe, including the uk, is it a slightly different place on the curve of upper numbers. as a sense

of people are sharing best practice? as much as possible but this, you know, the figures, each country is ata know, the figures, each country is at a different stage and the german health authorities have told the bbc that they are weeks behind italy, for example. so far, the number of deaths in germany has been smaller than in other countries but they fear that a number of deaths will rise. and we have seen new city of an old peoples home in bavaria where nine people have died. measures are in place there to try and isolate people. there are other people infected there as well but less of course taking an enormous toll, not only on health services but on ca re rs only on health services but on carers and things like old people's homes and people really feeling that this is a race against time to try and contain the spread of the

coronavirus. many thanks indeed. in hong kong, which recorded 48 confirmed new coronavirus cases on friday, chief executive carrie lam has warned that a secondary wave of infections could result from an influx of overseas arrivals — many of whom are residents returning to the territory. translation: the number of cases from people flying in from overseas, compared to the last two months of hong kong's fight against the epidemic, is even more serious and difficult to handle and could lead toa difficult to handle and could lead to a large—scale and delayed outbreak in society. carrie lam there. chinese officials say there have been no locally transmitted cases of covid—19 in the country for three consecutive days. there is a feeling there that the coronavirus emergency appears to be under control. we should say nothing is fully clear

as yet. people in beijing are finally heading outdoors, as our china correspondent stephen mcdonell reports. countries around the world are going through a coronavirus emergency but in china, people have been living it for months. now, with the weather turning good and a feeling that the situation is pretty much under control, more and more of them are busting out of their houses.

when you talk to people here, one thing that strikes you is, that for many of them, despite the early bungles, despite the early cover—ups, there seems to be a belief that once the national government got involved, that the authorities would find a way through this crisis.

you're watching bbc news. stay up—to—date online. in australia, the authorities have closed sydney's famous bondi beach. police took action after beach—goers exceeded the newly—imposed limit on outdoor mass gatherings. australia has just recorded its biggest daily jump in confirmed coronavirus cases, with the total now above 1,000. shaun hassett has more. this was bondi beach on friday. it is the most populous strip of sand in sydney. too popular, in fact, for the current crisis. on saturday, the authorities closed it down. it's with a significant level of disappointment that we have to move today, to not only remove people from bondi beach, but use this as an opportunity to remind everybody that the health act must be complied with. large crowds of people flouted the restrictions brought in earlier this week. the australian government has banned outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people. it has also requested people to keep at least four square metres

apart when out in public. what we saw this morning here at bondi beach was the most irresponsible behaviour of individuals that we have seen so far. some beach—goers admitted they were trying to squeeze in one last swim. i think this is the last hurrah, to be quite honest. i think from tomorrow, this will definitely... we should not be doing it now. when the beach reopens, the police will ensure the 500 person limit is respected. the government has warned of long—term closures if people don't stick to look social distancing. the prime minister has flagged the possibility of locking down virus hotspots as early as next week. the husband of a british woman who died from coronavirus in bali has spoken for the first time. kimberley finlayson, who was 52,

died after two emergency operations in indonesia. she had diabetes but her husband ken said she considered herself to be in good health. jeremy cooke reports. myself and my four children are absolutely devastated to lose the most beautiful wife and mother. i have lost half of myself. in the holiday hotel room in bali he should be sharing with his wife, ken finlayson is alone, grieving. she actually booked this hotel but she never managed to get here. kimberley fell ill soon after arriving from the uk. she had diabetes but had been in good health. this phrase "underlying health issues" has come into our language. the irony of that phrase, to me, is that i do not know many people in their 50s that have not received medication, have not had some health issues. ken is warning other british travellers that healthcare in less developed countries is not the same

as back home. he watched kimberley die in a government hospital, during surgery. she said that she loved me...and... you know, we...exchanged that for a few minutes and, you know, looked into one another‘s eyes. even in his grief, ken's thoughts are with other british families who may also lose loved ones to covid—19. you need to be strong for yourfamily and the memory of your loved one who died in such tragic circumstances. ken has tested negative for the virus but is still unable to get back to the uk. his strength comes from his family and from the memory of the wife whose life he shared for 32 years.