this is bbc world news. the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen above the 400,000 worldwide. in the uk the death toll rises sharply as a strict new measures come into force. 82 people have died in the last 24 hours. deaths in italy search by 743. it is the second—worst daily figure and comes after the rate appeared to be flattening. india has imposed a three week total lockdown on its 1.3 billion people. japan says it will postpone the tokyo 0lympics until next year because of the ongoing spread of covid—19. plus we meet the

italian mayors incandescent and people still flouting restrictions. hoboken to bbc world news. the global number of cases has surpassed 400,000. it took 67 days for the first 100,000 to be recorded, 11 days for the second 100,000, the most days for the second 100,000, the m ost rece nt days for the second 100,000, the most recent 100,000 cases have been confirmed in the space ofjust two days. researchers from johns hopkins university are mapping the spread of the virus which has averaged 169 countries across the world. they see —— there you see that map a very good visual illustration and you see the number of cases and also the

death toll and just the hotspots that exist around the world. that tally is a really useful guide as to where coronavirus is spreading and the places where they have had the highest cases and it is listed country by country to the left of the screen. the coronavirus death toll in spain hasjumped by 514 in a single day as the situation in that country quickens. in france, two of every five of the country's 5000 intensive care beds are already occupied by coronavirus patients. the indian prime minister has announced the most wide—ranging world lockdown for the scene yet for some1.3 world lockdown for the scene yet for some 1.3 billion people are affected. it is not yet 24 hours since the uk announce an effective nationwide lockdown with government warnings not to leave your home u nless warnings not to leave your home unless it was absolutely essential. 27 million britons to do in their televisions, booted up the streaming services last night to watch the

prime minister issued those new instructions. today the government announced it will be opening a huge temporary hospital in east london will be ready to accept covid—19 patients from next week. the nhs nightingale hospital will comprise two rewards each of 2000 people. with the help of the military and with nhs clinicians, we will make sure that we have the capacity that we need so that everyone can get the support they need. -- will comprise two words. let's get the latest from jonathan blake who is live in westminster and wife under these new restrictions jonathan, a westminster and wife under these new restrictionsjonathan, a lot of focus today on clarity, what is allowed, what is not about? those are the questions people have been asking themselves since the dramatic address of the nation by the prime minister around this time last night and there has been some confusion about particularly who should be going to work and who should not be

going to work and who should not be going to work and who should not be going to work. the prime minister said last night that people should stay—at—home. with those four exceptions, to leave home only for shopping, basic necessities, for exercise once a day, medical reasons, 01’ exercise once a day, medical reasons, or to go to work. and that is only in the case where it is not possible to work from home. travel to and from work should only be done where it was absolutely necessary. there came without a whole list of businesses that would be closed as of last night, shops which were deemed to be nonessential, libraries and other public facilities. but there has been a particularfocus around construction workers who are not falling into the category of key workers but not finding themselves in that category of employers who are closed down. they have been left in many cases with no option but to go to work and been asked to turn up

to work or told to by their employers but finding themselves in a situation where theyjust simply are not able to in many cases follow the guidance for social distancing to stay at least two metres apart. that is been the particular focus but the health secretary as he heard trying to clarify that by saying people who can't work from home should still go to work where necessary. let's rattle through some of the other key lines power the police have. is that clear? what about that field hospital the health secretary was talking about opening up, and testing as we speak now, how many up, and testing as we speak now, how ma ny tests up, and testing as we speak now, how many tests are actually being done? 160,000 being done in germany every single week. yes, and it is not at that rate here yet. the mat —— the health secretary matt hancock was facing questions about this in the house of commons not leased from his predecessorjeremy hunt the conservative mp who said it appeared the government was not carrying out any more tests at this point than they were at this time last week,

something in the region of five to 8000 a day, they have a target to get that up to 25,000 a day and health secretary said the government bought millions of testing kits but it is clear it is not where many people expect it to be or where the government want it to be at this point. that is a key focus at the moment. you mentioned that hospital, the xl centre in east london will be turned into a makeshift type or hospital run by both nhs staff and military personnel with capacity for 4000 patients and there is also a call to recruit volunteers for the nhs to support the health service through this crisis. the government is looking for a quarter of1 million people to sign up to assist the nhs through this time and were chilly those people will be working to help deliver food supplies and medicines and support the 1.5 million people who have been getting m essa 9 es million people who have been getting messages in the last day or so and being told to stay at home for the

next 12 weeks because they are most farmable. jonathan blake at westminster, thanks for all of that. in the past few hours we had the latest figures from italy, the current centre of the pandemic. 743 people have died in the last 24 hours, the second worst daily figure and comes after two days in which the death rate had fallen. i asked mark knowing about today's new figures. they are huge, another rising debts which is tragic here matthew but what is on is more important really all be atjustice tragic but what is more important in terms of the trend is the rise in new cases. “— terms of the trend is the rise in new cases. —— albionjustice tractor. what's look at the number of people currently infected with coronavirus. that number has gone up from yesterday to today by 7%. that is the third day in a row that the rise has slowed from one day to the

next and it suggests that italy is now ina next and it suggests that italy is now in a downward trend of new infections. when you look at the total number of cases which includes those who have been cured and those who have died, than the rate is roughly the same as yesterday, over 8%. but what we are seeing i think is that we are now in what appears to bea is that we are now in what appears to be a downward trend, a downward curve, a fall let's say, a downward spiral in terms of new infections which suggests that the restrictions italy has imposed across the country are beginning to work and despite that big rise in deaths which of course is tragic and huge, the authorities here are going to place much more importance scientifically and statistically on that infection rate. i suppose the only writer to that market is where official cases are affected, the number of actual cases at that point has been raised but in terms of what the authorities can actually do in terms of further

restrictions is there anything more they can put into place? the prime minister hasjust spoken they can put into place? the prime minister has just spoken and he has said that he hopes very soon to be able to ease the restrictions. however he has also said that the fine for violating the rules on movement is increasing from a maximum currently at 206 euros, about $220, two 3000 euros, that is about $220, two 3000 euros, that is about $3500. that was mark lowen. let's turn to india because they have imposed a nationwide walk down in an attempt just have imposed a nationwide walk down in an attemptjust slowed the spread of coronavirus. the restrictions came into effect for —— in a scenario and will be enforced for 21 days. i spoke to our grossman and delhi. this is the first time india is seeing a lockdown of this kind. the prime minister in a televised address a few hours ago made a clear and emotional appeal that for the

next 21 days india will have to observe 100% lockdown. no one is allowed to get out of their as is and he said this was the only way to contain the cycle from spreading facet —— their houses. the other important aspect he went on to highlight was the fact that about $2 billion has now been allocated for health infrastructure for india to spend on experiments and on combating this disease. this is the first time india, every part of india is looking at a virtual curfew for the next 21 days. essential supplies the prime minister assured the public would not be hit. in terms of support, there is a total shutdown, that will impact the economy. in other countries we have seen packages of help and support also rolled out. rb seen that in india or not? we saw some measures being taken by the finance minister earlier in the day when she came out

ina earlier in the day when she came out in a televised address to address some relaxation in terms of income tax filing is concerned and some other for new businesses but the big announcement came from the prime minister when he announced in the televised address nearly $2 billion to spend on health infrastructure. he did not specify where exactly he would be spending on but the bigger question that indian businesses will be asking in the months ahead is what kind of compensation package are they likely to receive because every sector is going to be hit hard over the next couple of months. that the latest from india. let's turn to france because in the east of the country, doctors are warning that the country's health system is being swamped by the rapid progression of coronavirus. five doctors have died from the illness so far in the region amid growing fears of the availability of protective equipment for medical staff. our paris correspondent lucy williamson has been talking to doctors and eastern hotspot. in places like this it is

the very ill who are leaving hospital. intensive care units here are overflowing. and with dozens more, critical cases admitted each day, patients are being sent to marseilles, to brittany, to even germany and switzerland in a never—ending scramble for beds. and one senior doctor told me that stocks of a key life—support drug have virtually run out. translation: 0ur health have virtually run out. translation: our health system was not ready for this. i'm not sure there is a health system anywhere ready for this. because the scale of the crisis is bigger than any system could face. the mechanisms we are putting in place are enough. in the hospital car park, a military field camp has been set up with 30 intensive care beds. enough to last the hospital here about one day. the government this week tightened quarantine restrictions across the country and introduce a six—month jail sentence for those who regularly do not

comply. the health ministry has said the epidemic could start to peek here this week. a doctor working in the hearts of the crisis has described it as a huge wave moving west and warned it could saturate hospitals in paris within days. five doctors have so far died from coronavirus, many more are off sick. the government has ordered 215 million facemasks amid anger at a shortage of protection for medical staff. translation: i protect myself personally with a stock of equipment we bought for bird flu seven years ago. it is expired but we used to because we have nothing else. gps are given surgical masks in said which do not protect against anything. surgical masks in said which do not protect against anythingm surgical masks in said which do not protect against anything. it is totally useless. each night residents gather at their windows to applaud the courage of medical staff. recognition from a nation without immunity and i have this

epidemic is now travelling across france. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. let's to mike who lives in france where like everywhere else he has been dealing in the sudden change she lives his life. thank you so much for your time. —— where he lives his life. give me a sense of where you are? nothing like the hotspot that you were just looking at. in the south here we do not have the huge number of cases, it is not like the northeast or paris but like the country we are in lockdown and we have been in lockdown for a week and so in a sense we are suffering if you like with the whole of the country and the level of anxiety and stress in that is of course no different here than from elsewhere in the country. the new polls tonight show already after just a week of lockdown you have 33% of the french people feeling they are stressed by the situation. tell me about your stress whether you feel

that as well. it's not so much stress as it is a question of one wa nts to stress as it is a question of one wants to know the truth and i think you need to know the detail and people are short of a consistent picture from the government. for example, we are sitting here in our lockdown and to leave you can only leave to buy food or go to a doctor's appointment or a hospital appointment or if you are an aggregate cultural worker, to do that or to exercise and you have to fill in for every time you go out. you must physically fill in this form, it can't be the same form, you have to print a new and each time, you have to take all the boxes and fill your details and sign and date it at the bottom. you do that every day and if you do not have a printer you have to write it out in full. of course a lot of the elderly population in france don't own printers, bright and don't like computers. that's the first thing you had to carry this piece of paper

and you can leave to do your business but it is unclear exactly what the rules are and very often they changed daily. for example you can't go out for an hour to exercise that used to be unlimited. you could use to walk as far as you like then it was to congress and now down to one km but calling her french friends around the area, people have no idea. they think it is two km or 200 yards even. some of the messaging perhaps needs to be better in your view. i know what you explain with that form being bureaucratic but in a sense, the key is to keep people at home, is it working, our people complain?” think they are complying here. i think they are complying here. i think in the south where the crisis isn't as great as it is in the north, people are staying in. we went for a short walk yesterday and the town was empty. this is happening and people talk about it on social media and they are

complying. i think to go back, it is clarity that they want and the thing you hear more than anything is why is this changed again? the truth right now, we can cope with it rather than getting it in trips. mike payne we have to leave it there. thank you for your time speaking to us on our programme this evening. let's turn to the ellipse because the lipid games in tokyo have been postponed until next year. because of the pandemic, the japanese prime assertions or bases to co m plete japanese prime assertions or bases to complete on the books and para pets to complete on the books and parapets would be held by the summer of 2021 as proof of victory over coronavirus. the announcement came after one is from several countries they would boycott the olympics if they would boycott the olympics if they were held this july. they would boycott the olympics if they were held thisjuly. here is adam wilde. the games of the 32nd olympiad in 2020 are awarded to the city of... tokyo! it was supposed to be the greatest show on earth, the

lipid games, the pinnacle of global sports. but even those pushing to go faster, higher, stronger are not immune from this global crisis. four yea rs immune from this global crisis. four years after the baton was passed to tokyo, the lipid flame arrived at this week. organisers and some fans had been pressing on. undeterred, determined. but today they have been forced to face the reality, the games will not go ahead the summer. a statement from the ioc and tokyo organisers confirmed... translation: cancelling the games is not an option so there was an agreement about that. —— there was... what was agreed was to provide a safe place

for athletes inspectors in light of that and the koba situation the holding of the games injuly is impossible some bite for only picked organisers pressure had been steadily increasing. canada at the weekend became the first country to announce had to games going ahead. there athletes would not be involved. australia than followed.” think everybody feels for the people of japan. we know think everybody feels for the people ofjapan. we know that think everybody feels for the people of japan. we know that they are ready for the encoded book games and all the money and info structure they put in place for it to happen and we do not want it to go to waste. postponement is the best option. this is not the first time the olympic movement has come under pressure from global advance was of just four years ago the zeke of fires force some athletes to withdraw from rio. terror attacks in atla nta a nd withdraw from rio. terror attacks in atlanta and 96 had infamously —— and inferencing munich in 1972 but never before in peacetime have the games been postponed this way. whilst today's decision ends weeks of uncertainty, there were now be new

questions to answer and tokyo will have to wait a little longer. adam wilde, bbc news. now, three confirmed cases of covid—19 on the cree cognitive was was have sparked the fears of if the virus reaches the fears of if the virus reaches the overcrowded refugee camp. these pictures were shot inside that camp home to around 20,000 people. humanitarian organisations have warned that the dire conditions they're leaving refugees and more vertebral to disease than ever before for so there are concerns that asylum—seekers won't have access to the resources needed to prevent and manage any sort of wider outbreak. let's head to west post and talk to astrid who is from the un refugee agency. thank you for being here. tell me more about your concerns here. so indeed 18,000

people while society has... for 2200 persons. it is very concerning because inside like outside, the living conditions are very poor. overcrowding, not sufficient access to the necessary wash facilities, showers, toilets, and also lack of hygiene, a lot of garbage everywhere. it is very challenging and we are concerned about it and it is heartbreaking. you talk about the potential, three cases, how worried are you at the speed of potential spread there in situations and conditions like that? in order to effectively combat public health emergencies, it is important that eve ryo ne emergencies, it is important that everyone including refugees,

asylum—seekers, and migrants have access to health facilities and services in a non—discriminatory manner. so in this sense, our role is to work together with the governments and support the coordination of prevention but also in the preparedness.” coordination of prevention but also in the preparedness. i suppose all of that work prevention, preparedness has to be done now. what is the sort of timescale, what is it that you actually require now as we speak? so, we have already since last week ten days ago actively passed on messages to the communities in order to inform them about the symptoms, the preventative measures to establish, and we are currently busy on preparedness. that means unit chair has proposed a plan to the government in order to

address an outbreak by being ready to establish government proposed medicalfacilities providing essential hygiene items in aprilfor example, we will be providing additional top up for assistance so asylum—seekers have the means to buy hygiene items. one final question because you will know that so often asylum—seekers, refugees are in a sense at the back of the queue. a blunt final question in terms of everything you just said and the appeals you are making, are people listening? among the asylum-seekers yes, they are really concerned and they do apply advice proposed and

recommended. however, as we have version already since september 2019, we have urged the greek government to transfer at least 20,000 government to transfer at least 20 , 000 asylum—seekers from government to transfer at least 20,000 asylum—seekers from the greek islands to the mainland. but also, going up to the eu member states to continue supporting the greek response with resources, capacity, but also solidarity. that is what i meant. are the authorities who you're appealing for assistance and help, are they listening to the appeals you are making just briefly? it's important that we need to see drastic measures to be taken because also the local community has had enough now, 20,000 people, this is the second biggest city in lesbos which means also that for the peaceful coexistence, the tolerance

has to be... unless drastic measures are used to decongestant and ease pressure and i'm come up we went to be able to respond easily. thank you for joining be able to respond easily. thank you forjoining us and giving us those thoughts on the conditions of the camp and what is actually needed. now let us turn back to italy because in the last couple of weeks it'll be has been the focus of international attention with other countries trying to avoid what is happening there now. they have observed and sometimes copied it away‘s increasingly strict measures but even there people have been flouting curfews but even there people have been flouting cu rfews and but even there people have been flouting curfews and restrictions. local mayors have expressed their outrage posting videos like this on social media. have a look. translation: mobile how dressers, what the hell is that? do you understand that the casket will be close? who the hell is even supposed to see you with your hairall is even supposed to see you with your hair all done is even supposed to see you with your hairall done up is even supposed to see you with your hair all done up in the casket?

i saw your hair all done up in the casket? isawa your hair all done up in the casket? i saw a fellow citizen on the street accompanied by a tired dog. i stopped him and told him book this is not a film, you are not will smith and! is not a film, you are not will smith and i am legend, you have to go home. some of the videos i have gone viral. back with more from the us here injust a moment. temperatures in north wales got as high as 19 degrees today because of a southerly flow of air and plenty of spring sunshine, as you can see from the satellite picture. but it wasn't like that everywhere. we have more cloud across the far northwest of the uk. outbreaks of rain here. and there is some colder air right up to the north, and that will eventually be heading our way over the next few days. but as we go through the rest of this evening and tonight, we will continue to see outbreaks of rain across parts of northwest scotland. some of that rain getting down into northern ireland. the rain band generally trying to sink it's way southeast—wards, but not making a lot of progress, and, certainly, across england and wales, we will hold onto some clear spells, a little bit misty and murky

for some coasts in the west. but i think we are likely to see a touch of frost for parts of the midlands, southern and eastern england, perhaps east wales as well. temperatures down to freezing or a touch below. but, here, across the bulk of england and wales, once again, there'll be a lot of sunshine through the day tomorrow. whereas for northern ireland and scotland, we still have our slow—moving band of cloud with some outbreaks of mostly fairly patchy rain. temperature—wise, once again, up to 16—18 degrees for parts of north wales and merseyside. not quite as warm or as mild as that where we have the cloud further north. now, as we go through wednesday night into thursday, the band of cloud and patchy rain associated with this frontal system really does drag its heels. it gets stuck across parts of scotland and northern ireland, the far north of england as well, and may be still, the odd spot of rain along that weather front. to the north of that, remember, we have that colder air starting to work in. so chilly but bright for the far north of scotland. a little bit cooler further south across england and wales by this stage, because the winds will be coming in from the east or the northeast. we keep that east or north easterly

flow as we go on into friday. so, despite some sunshine towards the south, a slightly cooler feel here. further north, our old weather front‘s still bringing a lot of cloud, and those are your temperatures for friday afternoon between 9—13 degrees. now, into the weekend, we finally lose that frontal system. it will push away southwards. high—pressure building in behind, but with the winds flowing around high pressure in a clockwise direction, that is going to leave us with a brisk northerly wind. that wind bringing some really cold air down across the uk. so we will see a cold wind through the weekend, some sunny spells, wintry showers, there could even be some snow for some.

this is bbc world news i'm matthew amroliwala. our main coronavirus headlines. despite the accelerating coronavirus death toll in the us, president trump says he wants the economy to be back up and running in fewer than three weeks' time. we are opening up this incredible country, cure be worse than the problem. we are opening up this incredible country, because we have to do that. i would love to have it open by easter. ok? iwould i would love to have it open by easter. ok? i would love to have it open by easter. oh, wow, ok. in the uk — the death toll rises sharply — as strict new measures come into force — 82 people have died in the past 24 hours. up to a million british nationals who've been travelling abroad are urged to come home while they can, but large numbers of flights are cancelled. and space may be the final frontier, but many of us aren't getting enough

of it thanks to social distancing. we'll talk an astronauht about coping in confined spaces. hello and welcome to bbc world news. president trump has said he would love to have the country open by easter — repeating a message he said yesterday in his daily brieifing where he warned the ‘cure' shouldn't be worse than the disease. the commons come in the face of a marked acceleration ——the comments come in the face of a marked acceleration of cases in the us — the jump in deaths and the need according to the medical and scientific advice — for controls of movement. let's hear from let's hearfrom president trump.

america will again and soon be open for business, very soon. a lot sooner than 3—4 months that somebody was suggesting. a lot sooner. we cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. we are not going to let the cure be worse than the problem. that was the problem that the president had yesterday's briefing. we can cross to katty kay who joins us from her home in washington. that was the president yesterday, he has repeated that message that he wa nts has repeated that message that he wants the country open by easter. we seem to be heading towards collision course between what president trump wa nts course between what president trump wants and what the medical community and scientific community wind. yeah, it's really fascinating to watch this dynamic play out, because president trump gave an hour long interview on fox news television, of course, friendly all audience for the president today. his message basically was that, that the country is going to be reopened for business. he gave out this date of

april the 12th, which is easter. he said easter is a very special day, it's going to be even more of a special day, because he would love to have the economy reopened by then. he said that he didn't see that there was a problem of people being able to be safe in their workspaces. they could still wash their hands, they could practice social distancing, but the priority for him, it seems to him at the moment, is to get the american economy moving again. the argument he's making is that if you shut down the economy and the way that it is being done at the moment, you will have millions of people losing their jobs, and the president even said, well, that could result in thousands of people committing suicide. so you could have even more people dying because the economy is being shut down. of course, as you point out, matthew, that is not the advice of the medical people that are surrounding him, people like doctor faucl surrounding him, people like doctor fauci, doctor burks who said that this could go on for several weeks, if not months, these restrict restrictions on the american public. at the same time, you have more and more american cities going into

lockdown. uk going into lockdown. the europeans are still in on him and the prospect of america, which is set to become the epicentre of this virus fairly soon are now saying, ok, we will open things up again. that is an alarming topic matches to americans in the medical community here, but i imagine to europeans as well. doctor fauci who you mentioned there, we were about him yesterday, that very very candid interview he gave where he said he couldn't jump in front interview he gave where he said he couldn'tjump in front of the microphone every time the president said something that was inaccurate. he said he wasn't on the podium there for a yesterday's news briefing. yeah, he wasn't in this fox news town hall either, it was his colleague, doctor burks who was there. the president has been asked, is doctor fauci sidelined? we have been told by the president that, no, he is working on other things. of course, all of these people are incredibly busy. so they all have to do multiple things at once. but, it is noticeable that since that's very candid interview, we have not heard from doctor fauci in public, and he has been the most outspoken against

a president who we know does not like being criticised in public. he is though somebody with the american public seems to find reassuring, so i think it would be difficult for the president to have him sidelined totally. one thing that's worth noting though, i should point this out, which is getting figures and from the president's latest approval ratings, specifically on his handling of the coronavirus, matthew. the president from gallup poll is getting 60% approval ratings from the american public. interesting. katty kate, thank you very much. let's continue to focus on the united states. when is the right time to loosen social restrictions. president trump says he wants to talk about that soon. let's get the thoughts of dr david hamer , an infectious disease expert with boston medical centre and a professor at boston university. welcome here to the programme. when you hear the president talking about loosening the constraints about movement being open by easter, what do you think as a medical

practitioner? i think this is a premature to even begin speculating that we can be ready to be opened by easter. given the rise of the epidemic in many parts of united states. what sort of consequences do think it would have? we have at the numbers in the last hour or so, we have seen an acceleration of cases in the united states, and an acceleration in the number of deaths. if we were to play at the course that donald trump has just been napping out, what would be the consequences do you think?” been napping out, what would be the consequences do you think? i think that if we were to follow through with restriction of control measures for 4—6 weeks and perhaps even longer, that we are going to flatten the curve and spread out the total numberof the curve and spread out the total number of cases over time, allow the hospitals to be better able to manage them, but can also come out reduce the overall number of deaths. i think if we reopen things to early, then we are going to risk having the epidemic spread again, and really overwhelm our health care systems and public health since it

took neck system. how real is that risk of overwhelming the health care system there in the us? it's happening already. unfortunately, i mean, many hospitals are struggling with the volume of patients they are seeing. having to make difficult decisions about opening up additional words, decisions about opening up additionalwords, bringing in additionalwords, bringing in additional health care workers, and then supplies are really in short supply. especially personal protective equipment for health care workers. as well as tests for identifying people who are infected with covid—19. identifying people who are infected with covid-19. yes, that testing area, because, again, a lot of criticism of this administration about just the sluggish criticism of this administration aboutjust the sluggish pace when you compare to somewhere like south korea, i think only five people per million are being tested there in the united states. has there been any uptake in the amount of testing in the us? in the last week or so if there's been a massive effort in many different areas i think to make

tests available both at the hospital level to scale up available tests to private vendors, and i think that we are starting to see that test turnaround time dropping quickly. i think there are shortages for the tests, and some of the test kits, i think that in the next 1—2 weeks, we will see an uptick a number of tests done. unfortunately, numbers of confirmed cases of covid—19. done. unfortunately, numbers of confirmed cases of covid-19. just a final thought, because donald trump was talking yesterday making the point at one stage that doctors would like to have the lockdown for perhaps a year. when you hear something like that, and him say that, does it where you at all that the president as being rather casual with the science and that the medical view? well, sadly, i'm not convinced that he listens consistently to any of his advisers, including his scientific advisers, like doctor faucl scientific advisers, like doctor fauci. and i think he's made some

major misstatements early in the outbreak, and i think his idea of trying to open things up again by easter is really unrealistic. so, you know, my hope is better judgement will lead to his listening more carefully over the next few weeks. especially as he sees the numbers of both cases and deaths that i anticipate are going to incur. doctor hammer, thanks for taking time to speak to us on today's hope programme. cassie smedile is the republican national committee's, deputy communications director — she joins us now from washington. welcome here to the programme. you we re welcome here to the programme. you were listening to the two interviews were listening to the two interviews we we re were listening to the two interviews we were just were listening to the two interviews we werejust doing, were listening to the two interviews we were just doing, is donald trump of the rights man to actually be handling this crisis? well, of course i think he is, butjust look at that gallup poll that katty mentioned earlier. 62% approval rating, we see this in poll after poll, week to week, that the american people like what they are

hearing from the president, more important, they like what they are seen from the president and his administration, and feel that there is not just administration, and feel that there is notjust strong leadership on this front, but that there are decisive actions being taken to mitigate the spread, and over here, the american people every day get more than an hour of the president's time where he's speaking directly to them, bringing up these officials to give direct answers to questions that... give direct answers to questions that. . . the give direct answers to questions that... the trouble is, in those briefings come of it has been contradictions, there's been this. you heard the chief scientist who said in that interview that he felt at times that perhaps he needed to jump at times that perhaps he needed to jump infront at times that perhaps he needed to jump in front of the microphone to correct inaccuracies from the president. even today, with the vice president, mike pence, he said the president, mike pence, he said the president was fully prepared to use the defence reduction act. now, donald trump told us back on friday that had already been implemented. that's right. he says it has been, it's just a matter of having to

actually put it into action. at that everything has been signed will stop but i would point out that comment about doctor fauci, you know, he said himself when he took the podium that as a scientist, he works in terms of data and facts and figures, but that that is not how everybody else speaks, but that he and the president for essentially saying the same thing. just talking about in different ways. the president was talking in terms of hope and optimism i think at this point they we re optimism i think at this point they were talking about grounds that had been made on getting a vaccine. but no one in the scientific community is talking about restrictions being lifted inside of three weeks. no one. welcome to the president is also balancing this entire situation. it's completely unprecedented situation. how do we implement what we need to do from a health perspective to mitigate the spread? everyone talks about the 15 days to fight the spread. but he also has to keep his eye on the economy, and people's jobs. also has to keep his eye on the economy, and people'sjobs. we need to make sure that we have a strong economy to bounce out of. i think

that's a balance that it run's try to figure out. it's not a balance of the science tells you that if you listed these controls, the american health system will be overwhelmed. that is also what the world health organisation is being underlining, saying that the us risks being the next epicentre of this pandemic. we also hear scientists and experts saying at what this is all going to look at is the president has set us all, he has made no definite decision, he said this is something he would like to do if we are able to do it. so i think we have to be careful about putting the cart before the horse on what the president himself is saying. thus far, what we have seen is that he has been on top of the situation, the united states has made decisions ahead of where other countries where. certainly, we know that we make decisions to help mitigate the spread of the virus ahead of italy and other european countries. just with certain travel restrictions.

even before the virus was fully apparent here, those where the types of decisive leadership decisions that propelled the american people to have faith in the president. and in the way that they are handling the situation as we work to come out as best as possible on the other side of the. we have run out of time, but thanks so much for your time. life there from washington. let's turn to the situation back here in the uk, the foreign office has advised all british nationals travelling abroad to return to home, while they can. but with huge numbers of flights cancelled, and many countries on lockdown, it can be difficult to get back. as many as a million british citizens could still be abroad. shaimaa khalil has been talking to travellers in australia. australia was supposed to be about excitement and adventure. but for ash and harry are to become a time of anxiety and despair. like many travellers trying to get back to britain, their flights have been cancelled. and they are racing against time. we feel very helpless. we tried contacting the airline

and we have had no luck whatsoever. we can't get a refund, so we can't get our money back to book a new flight. a lot of people are saying, just book the next flight out, but we physically do not have the funds to do that. so we are just stranded really, aren't we? yeah. it's just unsettling to know that we might be stuck here and not able to get home for the foreseeable future. australia is in the grips of the covid—19 pandemic. many travellers told us they want to leave but they need more support. the advice from the british embassy here is this. get on a plane and get out if you can, or stay put and wait it out. but with flight cancellations, no refunds, and those depending on casual work losing theirjobs and their income, many here cannot afford either of those options. and it's notjust young travellers are stranded. sue callum is a cancer nurse from leeds. she's visiting her daughter in melbourne and is due back in work early next month. i'm an nhs worker in the uk,

so whether i could volunteer in some way, shape or form, that would be something i would explore if i was anticipated being here for longer than the next two weeks, which is what they have initially predicted. neighbouring new zealand will enter a full lockdown on wednesday, with only essential services open and international travel all but stopped. at least 300 brits are trying to leave. among them anna and phil, who want to cut short their honeymoon. i'm still a junior doctor, but i'd be able to help out in a&e as much as i can. just doing day—to—day work, seeing as many patients as possible. i'm getting lots of e—mails saying they are really in need of locums, so i do feel as a british doctor that i should be back to help them. with tighter borders and fewer flights, travellers are quickly running out of options. and many also running out of hope. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, sydney.

those were tourists and australia. hundreds of migrant workers from central asia are stranded at airports in moscow. they've been stuck since russia closed its borders in the fight against coronavirus. many of them have spent days sleeping on terminal floors. with work permits running out, or work ending it's very bad conditions for people. they really can receive corona here. there have been dramatic pictures flooding russian social media in recent days, with crowds of migrant workers trapped at moscow airports after borders closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. some of them were even stranded in duty—free because they went through passport control, and then couldn't get back.

in moscow, there is no coronavirus pandemic lockdown, not yet, but the streets have definitely got quieter. and even though the schools have all been shut, lots of playgrounds and exercise yards are pretty much deserted. closing its borders isjust one of the measures russia has taken to protect itself in this pandemic, but for central asian migrant workers, that's created a crisis. hundreds of thousands of people come from central asia to russia for work, but the border closure hit just as the end of the winter season came in, and people's work permits were running out. with flights cancelled, many people got stuck at the airport, bad at any time, but that's even worse, of course, in a pandemic. risky health conditions, really, because...

charities and embassies have been sending food and water, but what people really have been asking for are tickets home. the situation has now begun to ease. tajikistan has sent one charter try to fight to bring back some of its citizens and uzbekistan is planning to do the same mama but there are a huge number of migrant workers still quite across russia, and getting everyone who wants to back home is a huge task. do stay with some bbc world news, because coming up, looking at the whole topic of self isolation, talking to and asked her not to

steer us through how actually to do that. that's coming up. sport may have come to a halt because of coronavirus, but many teams are trying to remain active in their community. stevenage football club probably have more challenges than any other — they're bottom of the football league in england. but they are trying to lead the way in switching their resources — as our sports correspondentjoe wilson reports the community that surrounds the clu b the community that surrounds the club is still there. waiting. you will make there a lot of people around that they have they can rely and come up with their people in this community that don't have anyone to rely on. it's good for the club to all come together and help towards the one because. just a friendly voice at

this time it can be crucial, stephen h's foundation will continue to take a course, offer advice, h's foundation will continue to take a course, offeradvice, even h's foundation will continue to take a course, offer advice, even when staff start working from home. lots of football clu bs staff start working from home. lots of football clubs are helping in various ways of the moment. but here, the perspective is unique. football was suspended with stephen h admittedly at the bottom. last place in league 2. a couple of weeks so, we might have even referred to that as a crisis. now, we really know what a crisis is. you met the perspective on the whole of the ball has changed. we have had a really, really tough season on the field. you will make a really good season off the field. but, actually a minor position is outdoing them. we are not worried about that, we are really worried about making sure the next time we kick a football here at the stadium, that there is as many of our staff, players, and supporters and volunteers all in healthy position to come back in to support us. without money for matches, the future is to say the least, a challenge. but, clubs like stephen h are nothing without their communities. the support is mutual.

right now, that may be measured in sandwiches. after all, the opponent is the same for everyone. joe wilson, bbc news, stevenage. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines when we cough we can produce upto 3000 droplets which can pass on the coronavirus. that is why goverments around the world are urging the public to stay at home and keep two metres apart to slow the spread. so how exactly is the disease passed on , and which surfaces does the virus survive on? jim reed reports. there are many ways of catching coronavirus. the first is through particles in the air. someone breathes out and coughs in the virus is spread in a droplet or aerosol. a single cough can produce 3,000 droplets. you breathe it in and become infected. this is why governments across the world are telling us to stay 2m away from each other

to stop the spread. the second way is through something scientists call fomite transmission. those virus particles land on a hard surface and are spread when an infectious purchase touches it. because the person who has the virus is shedding the virus from the nose and throat and copping it out into the air, that means anything they touch is going to be covered in this virus. if you come along later and touch the same surface, you could pick up from that surface a collection of these virus particles. if there are enough of them, if you transfer them to your nose or mouth or eyes, you could infect yourself. it's still early days, but a team in the united states has all ready run tests on corona. they found the virus that causes covid—19 can remain active on some surfaces. on copper, the results show traces for up to four hours. on cardboard, up to 24 hours. and on plastic, and stainless steel,

or up to three days. to mitigate the risk, do what i've seen many of my friends doing, which is either wrapping their sleeve around their hand to open door handles, or use your elbow. studies show the amount of virus on a surface declines sharply with time so doctors say it's important to be extra careful with surfaces that are touched frequently by others. as forfood packaging, if it comes to your letterbox, we think you it can live on cardboard for up to three days. —— we think the virus can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and plastic for three days. scientists say treat those results with caution. we don't know how much of that virus is needed to infect someone. if you're really worried about the sheu if you're really worried about the shelf stacker in a supermarket might have had some virus on their skin come if you really want to do, wipe

that down with a hand rub, and the same way as he would wash her hands. but that's probably not necessary. the risk from these sorts of services, given that the virus will have had to have been there for an extended period of time, is probably really low. in all of these cases though, the most effective thing you can do is to wash her hands with soap, with soap, cheap soap from a fa ncy soap, with soap, cheap soap from a fancy soap, and he sold, for 20 seconds. if the particles are on your hands, than it should be enough to kill the virus and break the chain of transmission. officials in china say, they plan to end the lockdown in wuhan, in two weeks' time. there's been only one new case there, in the last five days. people will be allowed to leave, if they can prove they're not infected. so now we're being told to stay at home as much as we can — and only leave the house if we have too. here's why staying at home is so important.

it means you can go about it as you've always done, and feel com pletely you've always done, and feel completely fine but actually factoring to have been three people within a week. what happens then is those people you infected go on to infect another 2—3 people each. then those people will infect others, and that's how the virus spreads. but look at what happens when people stay—at—home and practice social distancing? for instance, if this person didn't go around to their friends house, if this person worked from home, if this person didn't go to the corner shop. if this person didn't visit their mum. this reduces the number of cases from 406 to just 15. as the number of cases goes down, so it does the pressure on doctors and nurses and on our health service. this will make the difference between people living and people dying.

that's almost as for me, apologies for that interview with the astronauts, we lost the line in the last few moments on self isolation. but on the day that the coronavirus passes, 400,000, thanks for watching come and see you inside. good evening. temperatures in north wales got as high as 19 degrees today because of a southerly flow of air and plenty of spring sunshine, as you can see from the satellite picture. but it wasn't like that everywhere. we have more cloud across the far northwest of the uk. outbreaks of rain here.

and there is some colder air right up to the north, and that will eventually be heading our way over the next few days. but as we go through the rest of this evening and tonight, we will continue to see outbreaks of rain across parts of northwest scotland. some of that rain getting down into northern ireland. the rain band generally trying to sink it's way southeast—wards, but not making a lot of progress, and, certainly, across england and wales, we will hold onto some clear spells, a little bit misty and murky for some coasts in the west. but i think we are likely to see a touch of frost for parts of the midlands, southern and eastern england, perhaps east wales as well. temperatures down to freezing or a touch below. but, here, across the bulk of england and wales, once again, there'll be a lot of sunshine through the day tomorrow. whereas for northern ireland and scotland, we still have our slow—moving band of cloud with some outbreaks of mostly fairly patchy rain. temperature—wise, once again, up to 16—18 degrees for parts of north wales and merseyside. not quite as warm or as mild as that where we have the cloud further north. now, as we go through wednesday night into thursday, the band of cloud and patchy rain associated with this frontal system really does drag its heels.

it gets stuck across parts of scotland and northern ireland, the far north of england as well, and may be still, the odd spot of rain along that weather front. to the north of that, remember, we have that colder air starting to work in. so chilly but bright for the far north of scotland. a little bit cooler further south across england and wales by this stage, because the winds will be coming in from the east or the northeast. we keep that east or north easterly flow as we go on into friday. so, despite some sunshine towards the south, a slightly cooler feel here. further north, our old weather front‘s still bringing a lot of cloud, and those are your temperatures for friday afternoon between 9—13 degrees. now, into the weekend, we finally lose that frontal system. it will push away southwards. high—pressure building in behind, but with the winds flowing around high pressure in a clockwise direction, that is going to leave us with a brisk northerly wind. that wind bringing some really cold air down across the uk. so we will see a cold wind through the weekend, some sunny spells, wintry showers, there could even be some snow for some.

hello, i'm kasia madera, this is outside source. the numberof covid—19 cases globally has now passed 400,000. here are the headlines from around the world. in the uk a conference centre is being transformed into a field hospital, to help the public health service cope when the virus peaks. the world health organisation warns the us could become the next epicentre of the outbreak, but president trump is insisting it could be business as usual soon. in italy there's been another spike in deaths, after two days in which the death rate had fallen.

a nationwide lockdown has come into effect in india.