the men in charge of britain's fight against coronavirus, both test positive for the disease as the uk's death toll climbs again. just hours afterjoining the nation to applaud nhs workers — borisjohnson found out he too had the virus. i've developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus. that's to say, a temperature and a persistent cough. and on the advice of the chief medical officer i've taken a test. that has come out positive. the health secretary, matt hancock, with the prime minister two days ago — also has it and the government's chief medical adviser, professor chris whitty, is displaying symptoms. the principality stadium in cardiff is to be turned into a temporary hospitalfor 2,000 people —

along with huge conference centres in london, birmingham and manchester. in italy almost 1000 people have died since yesterday — the biggest one day rise in a country locked down for more than two weeks. for the first time since 9/11 refridgerated lorries are lined up in new york as temporary morgues — president trump signs a $2 trillion rescue plan for the us economy. and england's huge new army of volunteers gear up to help the most vulnerable — more than 700,000 people have nowjoined the scheme starting next month. and coming up in sport, we hear from the chairman of northern premier league leaders, south shields, after the season was scrapped with the club 12 points clear at the top. good evening. there's been a big rise

in the number of people in the uk who have died of coronavirus — 181 lost their lives in the past 2a hours and more than 6,000 are now being treated in hospital. it comes as the prime minister and the health secretary have both tested positive for the virus. the government's chief medical adviser, professor chris whitty, is also self—isolating after displaying symptoms. in a video on social media, borisjohnson said he currently has mild symptoms and will be working from home to lead the national fight back against coronavirus. the uk death toll has now reached 759, in just three weeks. here's our chief political correspondent vicki young. keeping their distance. like many neighbours, the prime minister and chancellor stepped outside to pay tribute to nhs staff last night but four hours later, boris johnson tested positive for coronavirus. i've taken a test, that's come out positive. so i am working from home, i am self isolating and that's entirely the right thing to do.

but, be in no doubt that i can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fight back against coronavirus. that top team has been spending less time in the same room this week — cabinet was held remotely. the chief medical and scientific advisers where keeping further apart advisers were keeping further apart at online press conferences, but today chris whitty said he had symptoms and was self isolating. mrjohnson had his weekly audience with the queen on the phone. in the commons on wednesday there were fewer mps at prime minister's questions, but ministers sat together on the front bench, including the health secretary. he developed coronavirus symptoms that night and is also in self isolation. i'll be continuing to do everything i can to get our carers the support they need and i will be doing that from here, but with no less gusto. with the prime minister

unavailable, it fell to michael gove to take questions at the daily press conference. the prime minister has coronavirus, the health secretary does as well, the chief medical officer is in isolation. people will be looking at this and may be wondering whether you haven't been taking your own advice, or you maybe acted too slowly when it came to stopping the spread of coronavirus? the virus does not discriminate. we are all at risk and that is why it is so important that we practice social distancing measures. those are in place in government. ministers are working remotely and from home using video conferencing in order to make sure that we can follow the strict advice that all of us should be following in order to help to protect the nhs. like every other workplace, downing street has been affected by staff absence. the prime minister's chief adviser dominic cummings is still up and running. mrjohnson‘s girlfriend, who is pregnant, posted this

photo of her and dog, dylan, saying, "self isolating wasn't so bad." downing street's emphasising that like most people who get the virus, borisjohnson has mild symptoms and is continuing to work. there has been speculation about who would take over if he can't take decisions. that would fall to the foreign secretary, dominic raab. but the message is clear tonight, the prime minister may not be out and about, but he is firmly in charge. for the next seven days, he will stay in the office and flat in number 11 downing street. meals will be left outside the door. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. the head of the nhs said tonight that staff would start being tested for coronavirus from next week, including critical care nurses, intensive care staff, ambulance workers and gps. there's concern about the number of nhs staff currently off work because they're self—isolating with possible symptoms. meanwhile, more preparations are being made to care for the thousands of patients expected over the next weeks. the principality stadium

in cardiff will be turned into a temporary hospital, providing 2,000 extra beds, as will conference centres in london, birmingham and manchester. our medical correspondent fergus walsh reports. this is what nhs front line staff have been crying out for. swab test for coronavirus. several drive—through centres are being set up drive—through centres are being set up so those isolating at home can find out if they or family members are infected. this will be testing whether people actually have the disease, so our health and social ca re disease, so our health and social care workers disease, so our health and social ca re workers can disease, so our health and social care workers can have security in the knowledge that they are safe to return to work if their test is negative. these tests will be trialled for people on the front line, starting immediately with hundreds to take place by the weekend, dramatically scaling up next week. another key concern for nhs staff has been shortage of personal protection equipment. huge stocks are being sent out from this

warehouse near glasgow, but many say they are still being left at risk. among them, gps. people are really, really scared for themselves, their teams and for their patients, because they just don't teams and for their patients, because theyjust don't know when they go into see a patient, whether 01’ they go into see a patient, whether or not, even though they are not displaying symptoms, they may still have the virus. the rate of coronavirus infections is now doubling every three to four days. london is hardest hit. the mayor has warned that temporary mortuaries like this one in westminster, will need to be set up across the city. like this one in westminster, will need to be set up across the citylj don't want to panic or alarm any of your viewers but it is important we are ready for this and we are doing oui’ are ready for this and we are doing our bit to make sure we are ready. i am sorry our bit to make sure we are ready. i am sorry to say this, we are having to prepare for the possibility of huge numbers of deaths and that is what we are working on. all nonurgent surgery is being suspended for three months, as operating theatres are converted to makeshift

intensive care units. i have got what they call locally advanced prostate cancer. chris was due to have his prostate removed on monday, but his cancer surgery has been cancelled. i think it is morally and ethically wrong to sacrifice cancer patients in favour of covid—19 patients. it is so important cancer patients. it is so important cancer patient don't become the forgotten victims in all this chaos that is taking place. the hospital in derby issued a statement saying... cancer specialist should have the opportunity, with their patients to decide whether it is more risky for somebody to embark on treatment at this particular time given that you are more vulnerable to infection.“ you want a sense of the scale of what's coming, look at the huge temporary hospitals being created for coronavirus patients. this one

in london's docklands will eventually have 4000 beds. another at the nec in birmingham will have 5000. 1000 at the nec in birmingham will have 5000.1000 more beds will be at the nec in birmingham will have 5000. 1000 more beds will be created at the g—mex centre in manchester. the nhs is bracing itself. well fergus joins now. fergus are we getting a picture yet of how bad this could become in the uk? i have been saying for months the majority of people will get mild or moderate symptoms, like an unpleasant bout of flu. that is still the case. but the sheer numbers of getting infected, means hospitals will be under increasing pressure with cases doubling every few days. i have to warn you that in the coming few weeks, the daily death toll will inevitably rise into the many hundreds. it is vital when that happens, the public don't get downhearted and think that social distancing isn't working. it is

working, but there will be a lag of two to four weeks before we see its effects. as a nation, we have to hold our nerve, protect each other because our individual actions will save lives. fergus walsh, thank you. some nursing homes and residential care homes have told the bbc that they are still finding it difficult to get enough personal protective equipment to help them look after elderly and disabled people. they are also worried about the number of staff who are self—isolating and want testing. it comes as a nursing home in east sussex says three quarters of its residents now either have the virus or are showing signs of it. here's our social affairs correspondent, alison holt. at 0aklands nursing home in hove, they care for 20 vulnerable residents aged between 80 and 101. many of them are now fighting the coronavirus. keeping her distance, the home's manager says two residents have tested positive, another 13 are showing symptoms. one day they have a

normal temperature. the next day it is over 37. so we never know where you are, yeah. more than a third of her staff are off sick or self—isolating and she expects she and others will have to move into the home to care for the residents. she wants better protective equipment, but has been told they don't need full masks or gowns. i would appeal to the government, the guidelines need to change if they want us to look after these residents to the end, because they don't want them sent to hospital, yeah. so we need protection, yeah. 0therwise, who is going to look after them? one of the residents who has the virus, is guiseppe cassiello. tomorrow is his 95th birthday and normally his family would spend the day with him. the last eight days have been incredibly tough. incredibly tough. i have been pretty much sitting by the phone waiting for the inevitable news. i feel slightly calmer now

as the days go on and i feel that, you know, he's battled on and he's getting there. concerns raised at 0aklands nursing home about equipment and the lack of testing available are echoed by others. we have been in contact with nearly 40 care providers supporting thousands of people. many are finding it difficult to get enough personal protective equipment and there are concerns about the number of staff they have self—isolating. none of these services were very well provided in terms of staff in the first place. and all dependent on overtime and colleagues working long shifts, so that is all now getting stretched even further. there is a fantastic group of 1.2 million nhs heroes but also 1.7 million of social care workers who deserve every bit as much recognition and praise. some councils have bought their own protective equipment to distribute and the government says

it is working round—the—clock to get more supplies to care staff. alison holt, bbc news. here, the government has announced plans to cover employers' national insurance and some pension scheme contributions — as part of its bid to prevent a wave ofjob losses. the treasury said this could save businesses an extra 300 pounds a month for each employee. and workers who have not taken all of their statutory annual holidays because of coronavirus will be able to carry it over into the next two years. under the new regulations up to four weeks of unused leave can be carried over. some areas of business, particularly retail and aviation, continue to bear the brunt of the economic fallout of the coronavirus. today came the news that the restaurant chain carluccio's is expected to go into administration. brighthouse, britain's largest chain of rent—to—own shops, is also close to collapse. our business correspondent katie prescott is with me. katie, thousands

ofjobs at risk here. the government has put these very generous schemes in place to cushion businesses through this crisis. but for those that were already on the brink and in sectors that have been ha rd brink and in sectors that have been hard hit by this pandemic, it is proving difficult for them to reach the lifeboat. if we look at those we have spoken about, the rent to own company, their profits have been really squeezed over the last few yea rs by really squeezed over the last few years by increased regulation. they have been paying out about £1 million a month in mis—selling claims. now their shops have had to close and it is the same with carluccio is, the restaurant chain. they have been paying high business rates, high rent and now they don't have any customers. if you look at virgin atlantic, the airline industry has almost been completely shut down in the last month. they haven't made a profit for four years and we expect they will ask the uk government for a bailout in the next few days. we are seeing this unprecedented situation where businesses suddenly are not making any money but they have costs, they

still have money to pay out, they are burning through cash. for those on the brink, it is a bailout in the next few days. we are seeing this unprecedented situation where businesses suddenly are not making any money but they have e costs, they still have money to pay out, they still have money to pay out, they are burning through cash. for those on the brink, it is a i spoke to an investor this evening he months, if you are talking about longer than that, it could be a very bleak picture indeed. katie, thank you. fines have already been issued by the police to some people who have breached the government's stay at home rules, after new police powers came into force yesterday. officers are also trying to discourage people from going out in their cars to picturesque locations to exercise, even if no one else is there. here's our home editor mark easton. these police recruits in surrey are being trained to fight crime in a pandemic. note the gloves. inside headquarters, the chief constable is joined by a military planner — as agencies consider how to use new far—reaching powers to keep the public at home.

we are interpreting the new powers in the style of british policing in that we police by consent, but of course some colleagues are having to take steps to really explain to people that treating this as a bit of a holiday is not what this is about. footage has emerged of officers in perth confronting a man who claimed to have tested positive for the virus. although this individual did eventually comply, other forces have already used new health protection regulations, although this individual did eventually comply, other forces have already used new health protection regulations, issuing a number of £60 fine to people who refuse to go home when ordered. two—week training sessions are planned to get special co nsta bles, volu nteers and recently—retired officers to help the public adjust to the strange new world in which we live. i think the vast majority of people are complying. the businesses that should be closed are closed and people

are adjusting their lifestyles to the new what was first advice and now is regulations. announcement: you must stay home. in south wales, police and the local council are planning to use a drone to encourage people to comply with public health rules. please follow government rules at this time. after controversy over whether derbyshire police were right to shame people who drove to the peak district to exercise, the government today issued new guidance — saying people should only use open spaces near their home. in cumbria, visitors are being told they are not welcome this weekend. it's the tourist, the holiday—maker traffic we need to reduce to protect our nhs staff and to protect the vulnerable in this community. police chiefs are demanding what they call common sense, adding this is a national emergency, not a national holiday. mark easton, bbc news. in italy, there's been the biggest daily rise in deaths since the beginning of the outbreak there. almost 1,000 people

have died in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths in italy to more than 9,000. mark lowen is in rome for us this evening. mark, this huge increase comes after over two weeks of strict lockdown? shocking figures, it is like italy is losing the equivalent of a village today, 919 deaths in the past 24 hours, over 200 more than the previous one day rise. in the northern region of lombardy alone, 540 people have died there in the past day. you mentioned the lockdown that has been in place for over two weeks. it is flattening the curve. the infection rate is slowing here but progress is slow and uneven, and the awful news keeps on coming. 46 doctors have now died here since the outbreak began. the national health institute says italy has not yet reached the peak and that nationwide restrictions might have to be

extended for several months. tonight, meanwhile, the pope gave a special address on a very empty st peter's square, he gave his urbi et 0rbi blessing, to the city in the world, which he normally only gives it christmas and easter, so another sign of the historic times we are in. he talked of the thick darkness enveloping our cities. he said, "we find ourselves afraid and lost. doctors, nurses and caregivers were exemplary companions on this journey". but in truth, sophie, italians are finding it hard at the moment to keep the faith. they are hoping, bleeding, many of them are praying for that peak to come. —— hoping, pleading. in spain, the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, with 769 deaths in 24 hours. with so many critically—ill patients, it has meant that more and more are dying alone, because their families aren't allowed in. it's putting an enormous emotional strain on families and medical staff, as our correspondent damian grammaticas reports from madrid. cheering and applause.

from his bed, he waves, a moment of triumph in a spanish hospital. he is their first patient well enough to leave intensive care, but the medical staff are the only people there to see it. that is because every new virus patient brought in is immediately isolated from the outside world. not even families are allowed to enter hospitals here, and spain registered another 8,500 cases today. it is the awful reality esther garcia is facing. she has covid—19 and is trying to isolate herself, but she thinks she may have infected both her parents, mariapaz and constantino, both now positive, both in hospital and beyond her reach. you cannot hug, you cannot kiss, you cannot see the other, and it's the situation of so many people here.

esther‘s parents are being treated here in this hospital. it is one of the cruellest aspects of this outbreak, the rigorous separation that has to be enforced between the sick and everyone else, because it is so contagious. this is where her parents were admitted. many hospitals are at double their capacity. staff don't have time to answer phones or update families. it is what happens when the health service is swamped. spain did not bring in its lockdown quickly enough or test enough people to track the virus' progress. so now, people are dying in spain's hospitals, hundreds and hundreds every day, not surrounded by loved ones, but isolated and alone. to be so isolated, people get sick alone and they die alone and they are buried alone. you cannot do anything, you cannot be with them. esther has found a way to reach her parents. a nurse has got a phone in. herfather is improving, but her

mother's condition is serious. and night and day, as the virus advances, more families are being separated. silvia, who works in one of the hospitals worst affected, posted this notice this week, saying she will pass messages to those inside. these are the ones she is delivering tonight. the family tell me, "say i love you so much, i'm here with you, we can see you while i am here." something like this. silvia is a nurse assistant, just 24 years old, delivering comfort to the dying. spain's medics now shouldering the emotional burden of this crisis too. damian grammaticas, bbc news, madrid. meanwhile in france, the lockdown has been extended for another two weeks until the middle of april, with a warning it could be extended further than that. almost 2,000 people have died there now including a 16—year—old

girl whose death this week has shaken many people in france. president trump has signed into law a $2 trillion emergency spending package to relieve the impact of the coronavirus on the us economy. millions of americans have lost their jobs as a result of the crisis. more than 100,000 people in the states now have the virus. that's more than any other country in the world. almost half of them are in new york state. from there, here's nick bryant. new york, new york. the worst—infected city in what is now the worst—infected country. the was always a sense this planetary pandemic would end up ravaging this global hub, and although there is a deceptive calm on its now—quiet streets, it is behind the doors of its inundated hospitals that the crisis is playing out. emergency calls have hit their highest levels since the attacks of september the 11th. hospital staff are describing a tsunami of patients flooding emergency rooms. we are thought to be three weeks away from the peak here,

and already, they are exhausted. war zone, warzone, a war zone, a medical war zone, warzone, a medicalwarzone, with limited resources, with constant disparities, the pain and suffering we see, not only those who are afflicted with the coronavirus, but also those coming in for trauma. and so, it gets very physically and mentally exhausting. the very things that make new york so great i know it's on ability, the fact it is a melting pot. we are so dense, so together, which is what makes us special, gives us that new york energy, gives us that new york mojo. it also, that density, becomes the enemy in a situation like this. in midtown manhattan, something we haven't seen since 9/11, refrigerator trucks, ready to store the corpses of the dead, each one capable of holding up to 44 bodies.

these workmen were constructing a makeshift morgue. america is paying the price for not being prepared, for not taking the coronavirus seriously enough when it was ripping through china, for not ramping up testing quickly enough when it first came to these shores, for losing precious time. like the rest of the world, america is not just facing a public health crisis, but an economic emergency, and congress has passed a $2 trillion stimulus package, category five style devastation to the businesses forced a shut their doors. at least congress has now passed a $2 trillion stimulus package, a lifeline to an economy that this week saw its biggest spike in unemployment in history.|j that this week saw its biggest spike in unemployment in history. i never signed anything with a d on it, i don't know if i can handle this one. —— with don't know if i can handle this one. -- with 80 don't know if i can handle this one. —— with 80 on it. don't know if i can handle this one. -- with 80 on it. the legislation was signed into law tonight by america's being a president, republican lawmakers at his side but

the democrats cold shouldered. election year, political distancing. and then one day we get hit with this thing nobody ever heard of before, nobody even heard of before and now we are fighting a different battle but i really think in a fairly short period of time, because of what they have done and what eve ryo ne of what they have done and what everyone has done, i really think we're going to be than ever. america is on we're going to be than ever. america isona we're going to be than ever. america is on a war footing, led by we're going to be than ever. america is on a warfooting, led by a commander—in—chief desperate but unable to declare victory. nick bryant, bbc news, new york. since the start of this pandemic, there has been huge concern over what will happen if the virus spreads to developing countries that are unable to provide much protection. people who've had to flee from conflict are particularly vulnerable, like those in the refugee camps of idlib, in syria. as our international correspondent 0rla guerin reports, there are real fears of what the likely epidemic could bring. the camps of idlib, a place of last resort, and an easy target for covid—19.

after heavy rains today, freshly coated in mud. fatuma mohammed doesn't even have running water. at 70 years old, she has to fetch hers in a bucket and try to make it last. there is no soap, and no hot water to wash her grandchildren‘s hands. after nine years of war, she's worried about the new enemy. translation: we are scared. the streets are not clean. nobody is clean. we go to the medical point with our kids but it is shut. we don't have money. we only have god's mercy. civil defence volunteers line up to fight the invisible killer. they are doing what they can but it will take a lot more than disinfectant here and there. idlib's top health official told us he expects the virus to hit within days, and cause a devastating

loss of life. we will lose 100,000 people in this area because we don't have the resources to respond. we don't have real resources. for example, we just have 30 ventilators for adults in idlib, and those ventilators now serve more than 3.2 million. now we don't have only one ventilator empty and ready to receive corona patients. idlib's doctors are overwhelmed as it is, something we witnessed last month. they fight for every precious life, but hospitals have been bombed. —— but life support. hospitals have been bombed. 0nly —— but life support. hospitals have been bombed. only half are still working. for those trapped in the camps, little chance of social distancing. doctors fear if the virus strikes

here, they may run out of places to bury the dead. 0rla guerin, bbc news, istanbul. 715,000 people have signed up to help the nhs in england by delivering medicines and supporting the vulnerable. but there are many more who want to help. northern ireland, wales and scotland aren't included in that scheme. some charities say they're also desperate for more volunteers, as judith moritz reports. the nhs called, thousands rushed to respond, and the volunteer workforce continues to multiply. from her kitchen in huddersfield, vicky is one of those who logged on to offer her help. i volunteered to move medicines around. i don't know whether that's out of the hospital or within the hospital, and i haven't heard anything back as yet but i'm raring to go. i've got nothing else to do at the moment, so anything that helps.

those applying receive this email, warning them that it may take a little time to get the scheme up and running. those coordinating the nhs project say they're staggered at the volume of volunteers who have come forward. they are now going through all the applications to check everyone's id — and those offering to transport patients will have extra safeguarding checks, but next week, they say they will begin starting to match volunteers with those needing help. the nhs scheme only covers england. in northern ireland, there are lots of grassroots efforts — like this one — where volunteers are delivering food within the community. welsh and scottish conservatives are asking for the nhs project to be extended there. there is also a clamour for support from charities which will not benefit from nhs volunteering. fairshare redistributes surplus supplies from the food industry to people who are vulnerable and living in poverty. they say they're crying out for help.