this is bbc news, i'm ben brown. the headlines. the british prime minister warns the national health service could soon be "overwhelmed" with coronavirus patients. borisjohnson urges people to "make the heroic and collective national effort" to slow the spread of the virus. he cautions against visiting loved ones on mother's day. nhs england writes to 1.5 million people, who are most at risk, strongly advising them not to go out for 12 weeks, to protect themselves. in europe, italy edges closer to complete shutdown. spain races to create more space to treat the sick after the number of deaths rises by a third. more than a billion people in india are under a m hour—long curfew to try to limit the epidemic.

and in america one in five people are ordered to "stay at home" as state authorities struggle to control the pandemic. hello and welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world. the british prime minister boris johnson has warned the coronavirus outbreak is accelerating and could overwhelm the national health service if people don't do more to slow its spread. he's urging people not to visit parents on mother's day, and says everyone should join what he's called a "heroic and collective national effort" to follow social distancing advice. the number of people who've died in the uk from coronavirus has risen to 233 with more

than 5,000 confirmed cases. nhs england is to write to one and a half million people most at risk, strongly advising them not to go out for the next 12 weeks. globally, the number of coronavirus—related deaths is now more than 13,000. we'll have reports from around the world over the next half an hour, but first, simonjones reports on the situation in the uk. borisjohnson says he's been forced to take measures never seen before either in peace or war. he warns that the uk is no more than three weeks behind italy when it comes to the spread of the disease, writing about the need for social distancing, he says: if you do it, if you follow the

advice, you are saving someone‘s life. this is the time in your lifetime, whereby your action will save somebody‘s life. it's as simple and stark as that. to try to convince people to stay at home, bars and restaurants are being closed. on a typical mothering sunday, places like these would have been expected to be full of people, but now some have been boarded up. borisjohnson says he understands people's strongest instinct is to visit their mother on mothering sunday but he's telling people to stay away. he says statistics show that if your mother is elderly or vulnerable, she is much more likely to die from coronavirus. in an effort to prevent the nhs from being overwhelmed, letters are being sent to the 1.5 million people most at—risk in england, advising them not to go out for 12 weeks from tomorrow, to protect themselves. they include people who've had organ transplants, have respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and some cancer patients. 4,000 nurses and 500 doctors who've recently left the profession have answered a government call to return to work. but there's concern

about whether some people are taking the need for social distancing seriously enough. many parks on saturday were busy. the national trust has now decided to close all its gardens. but in scotland, many flocked to glencoe to ski. i don't know what people are thinking but i think a realisation has sink in that there's a different way of being at the moment and we're just going to have to get used to it. it makes me really angry that people have travelled into our community unnecessarily. in italy, where almost 5,000 people have died, residents and the worst—affected region, lombardy, have been banned from taking part in any sport and physical activity outside. all companies and factories across the country have been told to close immediately if their work isn't essential to combating coronavirus. and the warning in the uk is that it too may need to introduce tougher measures in the coming weeks. simon jones, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent helen catt is here.

boris johnson's borisjohnson‘s message to the british people, because in the uk, it is mothering sunday, mother's day, and obviously a lot of people normally would be visiting their pa rents. normally would be visiting their parents. absolutely. boris johnson's message to them today, critically, stay at home, don't do it. the terms he has delivered it in our very stark and i think that is deliberately so. again that's because as you said, mothering sunday in the uk, there is a real emotive pool to try and get family in one place together and that is absolutely what the government does not want. having forced the closure of pubs and bars, and other gathering places, the very last thing it wants is for people to gather in their own homes. the language in boris johnson gather in their own homes. the language in borisjohnson that has used —— used the language in borisjohnson that has used the prime minister writing things like, he cannot sugar coat the threats that if you have an

elderly relative, they are more likely to die from the coronavirus. the running of the impact on the nhs, that we could be two to three weeks behind what we're seeing in italy. this is all very hard hitting stuff to try and reinforce the importance of those social distancing measures. this is the strategy we have seen the government use this from the beginning, not going straight to enforcement, trying to encourage people to buy into this idea of a national collective effort. questions have been asked about that, whitemore enforcement has not been brought in quicker. this morning, labour's health secretary, jonathan ashworth, says the public needs clear guidance and direction from the government so that people really fully understand how vital these measures are. a sobering reminder that we must all ta ke sobering reminder that we must all take those social distancing seriously. the guidance issued to the1.5 seriously. the guidance issued to the 1.5 million people most at risk, who are they and what is the message to them? the nhs will write to these

people this week, people who have a particular list of underlying medical conditions, things like people who have had an organ transplant or who have blood cancer. they are particularly at risk of developing a serious illness from coronavirus. they will get letter this week and they will also get a text m essa g e this week and they will also get a text message if their local gp has a number, is to stay at home for the next 12 weeks, and they really mean stay at home, stay in the house and gun, don't go out and do your shopping, get friends and family to bring your shopping and medical supplies, leave them at the door. minimising household contact as well, so if they live with other people, keep two metres between them and anyone else in their household to shield them, it's known as shielding. that is what the government says they will strongly advise people to do. the government says it has set up local support systems where military planners have been drafted in to work with

councils and charities to come up with support systems for people who perhaps don't have the network of family and friends to look after them. they will make sure that they can get basic groceries, medicines that they need, they can still access those things is they self—isolate. access those things is they self-isolate. thank you so much, helen. let's turn our attention now to the emergency package unveiled by uk chancellor rishi sunak to help workers whose jobs and wages could be hit by the outbreak. we're joined on the line by employment lawyer kevin poulter. first of all, lots of questions still to be answered for the self—employed in particular. tell us a bit more about that. not a great deal to tell, we are still waiting foran deal to tell, we are still waiting for an announcement in these gaps of workers who are falling between those benefits or packages that have already been provided. u nfortu nately, already been provided. unfortunately, self—employed workers

are the people at the moment. we are expecting early this week hopefully, an announcement after various trades union conversations and other bodies are union conversations and other bodies a re interested union conversations and other bodies are interested in this. these are the people who are most affected at the people who are most affected at the moment, and they don't obviously have any lifeline available to them other than through universal credit which has been mentioned. there is a bit more of a clue about people who are staff employees, the government have said they wanted to help them with subsidising 80% of their wages. is it any clearer exactly how that money is going to be paid, when it will be available? it's a good question. there is a little bit more information but not a great deal more. they are looking to get this set up within the next few weeks, and it will be run through hmrc. these employees have to be furloughed. this is a new phrase from any —— many employment lawyers, it's to put people who would

otherwise be in work into a period of suspension, what people might have thought of as a lay—off previously, to say, we don't want to in work, we will agree with you about these provisions and look at how we will pay you and stay in touch through that period. but they will remain in employment. what we don't know is how long this will last. the suggestion on friday was almost by implication that this might be indefinite, but no further guidance has suggested, will look at three months and then review it after that. for the short—term, although it will be backdated to the 1st of march, we don't really know at the moment what this short—term impact will be. wages are going to be due for most people at the end of this week, and without that support immediately available, there are some loans available of course which we will find out more about on monday, tomorrow, but that short—term impact will be

potentially huge for many businesses already. what about people who were laid offjust already. what about people who were laid off just before already. what about people who were laid offjust before this announcement from the chancellor of help? again, good question. u nfortu nately for help? again, good question. unfortunately for them it may be if the dismissal has taken effect, rather than the old fashion that that dismissal —— the old—fashioned lay—off, the dismissal might stand. people could have a right to appeal, there could be an incentive for businesses to say we have this financial support we didn't have last week, we may be able to retain you on these reduced terms. we are talking about 80% but there is no automatic right for people to be paid 80% of their wages, it has to be by agreement. in the current climate, most people will agree to that but the employer has to take it on—board and it could be weeks if not longer before we see the cash. good to talk to you, kevin. the latest on the chancellor's package.

italy's prime minister gieseppe conte has announced a new set of lockdown measures which edge closer to shutting down the entire country. more than 4,800 people have now died in italy. spain is also in a race against time to create more space to treat the ill. freya cole reports. singing. they are the delivery drivers working in lombardy, italy's worst hit region. rallying his colleagues, the worker belts out a tune, encouraging them to keep going. day by day, italy's lockdown is growing more severe. in the lombardy region alone, exercising outside has been banned. the use of vending machines, forbidden. and for the rest of the country, the prime minister has ordered

all nonessential factories and businesses to close. translation: we are slowing down the country's productive engine, but we're not stopping it. it's not an easy decision, but a decision that allows us to face the most acute phase of the contagion. it's not yet clear what factories will close but supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices and banks will remain open. public transport will continue to run. but the strict new measures will span across all of the country, as a desperate attempt to slow the spread of the disease. on saturday alone, italy recorded nearly 800 coronavirus deaths. translation: i believe we have now taken all measures we are able to take before effectively shutting down the entire country. but i ask myself, how will we live?

and how will we be able to sustain ourselves if we are no longer able to shop for food, and if supplies are not able to make it to our supermarkets? spain is also in a race to save lives. authorities in madrid are working frantically to build a makeshift hospital inside a large exhibition centre. already, intensive care units are struggling to cope. more beds are needed, and they're needed fast. around the world, more than 300,000 people have tested positive for the virus. scientists are developing and testing possible vaccines, but as it stands, there is no cure and it's putting every health system under immense strain. freya cole, bbc news. germany is set to tear up its own rule book on government spending and take on a massive amount of debt to fund the fight

against the coronavirus pandemic. on monday, the government will unveil what's thought to be the biggest economic rescue package in germany's post—war history. 0ur correspondent damien mcguinness joins us live from berlin. how big is this package going to be? the numbers are eye watering, then. we are talking pretty much almost half e1 trillion according to one estimate. what we are really looking at is massive support for companies, that could be loans or direct things like enabling tenants who cannot afford the rent to not be kicked out by landlords, new tenant protection to which are already quite strong in germany, will be strengthened. the most interesting measure, if you look at other countries and what

they are doing, like britain for example, is that self—employed people and freelancers could get direct cash support. as you were just discussing, there is a question in britain about how millions of self—employed and freelancers will survive without any income at all. here in germany there are discussions to give freelancers and self—employed people, anyone from taxi drivers to freelance artists, a cash injection of ten details have not been announced yet but we will find more tomorrow. —— ten a cash injection of that. this is based on what the —— ten and $15,000. in the banking crisis ten years ago, unemployment in germany did not really go up. very few people lost theirjobs. that was seen as a success. the difficulty now, talking

about the whole economy, the numbers are much higher. the good news for germany is that for years now, there have been record tax intakes, social welfare accounts have a surplus. so the money is there. the government is saying, they have been saying, they have not taken on any new debt for six years, and now is the time when under test —— unprecedented levels of debt will be taken on but the german government says the economy is healthy enough to take that on board. the question is, how long? there are a lot of questions about how affordable that will be. there will be massive government support for the next few months all across the economy in germany. many parts of the united states now have enforced shutdowns. millions of americans are under orders to stay at home, as the country tries to control the coronavirus pandemic which has so far claimed more 300 lives there. the state of new york, considered to be the epicentre

of the american outbreak, has now ordered all nonessential businesses to close. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports. around america, everyday life has been turned upside down. coronavirus is in every state from california to connecticut, new york to illinois. people have been told to stay at home. the northern and southern borders closed to non—essential traffic, with both canada and mexico cooperating with the trump administration to limit the spread of the virus. in the us, more than 300 people have died. the number of cases has surpassed 20,000, with half of them in new york. young americans have faced strong criticism for not heeding the warnings to stay indoors, with spring break beach parties in miami and crowded city parks in new york, many appear oblivious to the threat posed by covid—19. these pictures of young people on beaches, these videos

of young people saying, "this is my spring break", you know, "i'm out to party, this is my time to party", this is so unintelligent and reckless i can't even begin to express it. mike pence has become the face of america's response to coronavirus. it was revealed on friday a man in his office had tested positive, with mild cold—like symptoms. the vice president said he and his wife took a test on saturday and were negative. officials say it still isn't necessary for every american to be screened. donald trump has been criticised for appearing in a tweet to offer hope that the use of two drugs currently being studied will help fight the virus. the president's words were put in perspective by one of his chief advisers. i'm not totally sure what the president was referring to, but i believe he was referring to a report that used both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin together to have some possibility

of being in effect. many of the things you hear out there are what are called anecdotal reports. in washington, senators at the white house are continuing to negotiate a $1 trillion emergency stimulus package to help ease the burden on working americans, many of whom have lost theirjobs because of the virus. newjersey is the latest state to order non—essential businesses to close and its residents to limit their public interactions. in california, people have been queueing to buy food as the state's make a0 million residents get used to a new way of life. as more and more us states order people to stay at home, this is becoming a more familiar scene, a deserted shopping mall on what should be a busy weekend. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. the indian government has put the country under

curfew for 1h hours. the prime minister, narendra modi, says it'll test the country's ability to take tough measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis. as part of the precautions against covid—19, indian railways have cancelled passenger trains till the end of march. so far there have been only 315 confirmed cases in india, and just four deaths. australia's prime minister has outlined details of a stimulus package to safeguard the country's economy from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. scott morrison said his government was commited to supporting the most vulnerable. the package of measures, combined with those we've already announced, sums to some $189 billion, around 10% of the size of our economy. 10% of the size of our economy. it is unprecedented in this country. what will be doing, as i said, is focusing on those in the front line, those who will be feeling the first blows of the economic

impact of the coronavirus. phil mercer is in sydney. first of all, we heard from the united states about lots of people still going to the beach, that has been an issue in australia as well? i know on friday bondi beach was packed with people and they have now closed quite a number of beaches. they have. bondi beach and other very popular sydney tourist spots have been closed. 0n very popular sydney tourist spots have been closed. on friday, the temperature here was over 30 celsius and many thousands of people, australian and international visitors, couldn't help themselves and they flocked en masse to bondi beach. australia's most famous arc of sand. that caused great dismay and anger among politicians and civic leaders, the local council in bondi it said the actions of those thousands of people were putting lives at risk and a few hours later,

the authorities closed down bondi beach temporarily because of the breach of new social distancing regulations in this country. all nonessential gatherings of 500 people or more are prohibited outside, in australia, and authorities are promising more draconian measures because as the prime minister scott morrison said earlier today, social distancing is one of the most powerful weapons australia has in its attempts to try and limit the spread of covid—19. and what are the rules there now on who can come in and out of the country at the moment? australia is effectively a fortress. from last friday, all foreigners have been prohibited from entering australia, australian citizens have been told very forcibly that they should not travel overseas, and they‘ re very forcibly that they should not travel overseas, and they're what we're seeing is internal borders in

australia are being closed as well. the island state of tasmania has effectively shut itself off from the mainland, and in the next couple of days, the states of western australia, south australia and the northern territory will effectively close their borders as well. we are seeing some extraordinary measures in these extraordinary times. the most populous state in australia are victoria and new south wales, they are to close down nonessential services within the next 48 hours. good to talk to thank you. social distancing measures are changing the way people work, socialise and even worship. bbc breakfast spoke to the archbishop of york, john sentamu, about how the church of england is planning to move services online after being instructed to close for three months because of coronavirus. what is interesting is that people now are streaming services, and some are being trained on how they can use their computers to receive the services.

the church near you has already started streaming services, which will have a lot of people actually, to continue to abide by the government's information, and of course we had very challenging words today from the prime minister, that if people do not actually have this social distancing, the nhs may be overwhelmed in the next five days. which actually in the end means people should self—isolate. a musician from dublin has found a way to spread a little cheer for those in isolation because of the coronavirus outbreak. mickey smyth, a regular performer at care homes and on hospital wards, has been serenading his regular audiences from a distance, keeping them entertained with his energetic versions of golden oldies and some irish classics.

volunteers up and down the uk are pulling together to help vulnerable people cope with the coronavirus crisis. a small village shop in wiltshire is organising an army of helpers who will deliver groceries across the community. fiona lamdin reports. 26—year—old alex is a busy mum of four, but is determined to help her community in wiltshire. this is one where someone is asking for some baby milk, and this person said, i've got this, unopened, it's free, you can have it if you like. she set up a facebook group and within hours, 1000 people had joined it. somebody was self isolating and they had no pasta so i took it to them. show me your pasta, did you have some? yes, i took it from my, i had some spare pasta. this is a bag of pasta that i took out yesterday so that her family could then have a warm meal with pasta. and alex has also volunteered to deliver food from her local shop out to those in isolation.

hello, i've come to get a delivery. the phones haven't stopped ringing, no more and more people are self isolating locally or are in the age range that are advised to stay at home, the phone hasn't stopped ringing. so it's really, really busy for us. three streets away, we meet tony, who is self isolating. i'm 85, my wife is 82. we've both got mobility problems, my wife, far more serious than mine. so we really can't take part in fighting for stuff on the shelves and things like that. so we're just ordering what we actually need, as we go on. and it's notjust alex looking out for others. can we have some essentials in about five bags, bread, milk, toilet roll, etc for some of these that can't get out? we can, toilet roll might be a problem but we will try. this supermarket and this care agency, neighbours on the high street. but this is the first time

they've worked together. they support 90 elderly people who are now stuck at home. they think that you're going to walk in with it and contract it as you're going in, that you can go into a supermarket and they think that you've got it. they're just very, very frightened. we're not going to let them down, they will still get everything that they need, they're not on their own, they've got us. we have become, because we're community based, the fifth emergency service. as the days and weeks go by, many will be leaning on their communities in ways they've never needed to do before. fiona lamdin, bbc news. coming up at10:30am, we'll be answering your questions on coronavirus here on the bbc news channel. we'll be speaking to peter drobac, a global health physician at the said business school in oxford, and dr amir khan, who's a gp. get in touch with the hashtag #bbcyourquestions — or you can text 611211,

or you email yourquestions@bbc.co.uk now it's time for a look at the weather with nick miller. let's just show you the scene, first, live in madrid, pretty much, as you can see, large number of deaths there now, a chilly, the prime minister pedro sanchez telling the nation in a televised address that spain has now 1326 more deaths, the second highest rate in europe after italy. 52,000 additional health workers have been mobilised in spain and they are racing to finish the construction of field hospitals as the death toll has jumped. that is the scene in a very

empty madrid. now it's time for a look at the weather with nick miller. hello, it is a dry sunday out there across much of the uk. a good deal of sunshine around, just a bit of patchy cloud here and there, and this is how it looks as we go through the afternoon. just 7 or 8 degrees along these north sea coasts. elsewhere, some of us are creeping into double figures. still a bit of patchy rain towards the western isles of scotland, and elsewhere it is dry. abundant afternoon sunshine. still breezy, but the wind is not as strong as yesterday. it does still feel a bit chilly in the breeze. 0vernight, the winds ease a bit further in england and wales, allowing a widespread frost to take hold. a patchy frost in southern and eastern scotland. towards the north—west of scotland, a chance of rain. increasing cloud into northern ireland. for most of us, temperatures are holding up. turning very wet for monday across the far north—west of scotland, especially into the western isles. increasing cloud and breeze for northern ireland. the best of the sunshine will again be across england and wales,