this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us navy sails into virus—stricken new york city, as donald trump says americans must social distance to save million lives. this is our shared patriotically duty. challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days. and this is a very vital 30 days. in london, an exhibition centre is transformed into a hospital injust one week. it could eventually treat 4,000 patients. a national exodus — hundreds of thousands of migrant workers flee india's cities after lockdowns leave them withoutjobs or pay. and a date is announced for the tokyo 0lympics. the games will go ahead — but in 2021.

hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. i'm james reynolds. we're covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally. there are now more than three—quarters of a million confirmed cases of the covid—19 virus around the world. the us has now recorded more infections than any other country, with 153,000 people confirmed to have the disease. some positive news from italy, where the number of newly diagnosed infections has fallen sharply in the past 2a hours to less than half the numbers recorded on sunday. officials say it is an indication that, three weeks into its lockdown, the country is heading in the right direction. but france has registered its worst daily mortality figures to date, with a18 new

deaths in the past 2a hours. and in india, hundreds of thousands of labourers have been forced travel across the country back to their home towns, as the country's lockdown costs them theirjobs and livelihoods. in manhattan, help is arriving by land and by sea, as nada tawfik reports. sailing into new york harbour, the naval hospital ship comfort is ready for battle. the city's deepening war against the coronavirus is just weeks from its peak, so it's all hands on deck on this floating hospital with 1,000 beds and i2 operating rooms. non—coronavirus patients will be sent here to take the stress off overwhelmed hospitals. our nation has heard our plea for help here in new york city, and there could not be a better example of all of america pulling for new york city than the arrival of the usns comfort. it's a major, major moment in this long battle we will be

fighting against the coronavirus. in central park, construction is under way for another emergency hospital. in less than a month, new york state's death toll from the outbreak has surpassed 1,000. pleas for help have been met by volunteers, and even the united nations has donated medical supplies that are in short supply. we're fighting for your lives, but we're also fighting for our lives, too. we're also scared. dr arabia mollette is an emergency physician at two hospitals serving low—income communities in the city. she took this video of a paediatric ward in brooklyn which has been turned into a makeshift isolation room to protect healthcare workers from covid—19. not only is she concerned about her patients and herself, but also several other family members who have contracted the virus. i reached out to my therapist and i said, "i need you again, because this is hard, this is tough. i don't want to carry this burden on me." i'm not ashamed of that

because this is part of mental health. the looming threat in urban and rural communities led president trump to extend social distancing guidelines to april 30. this live footage published by earthcam from around the country shows just how much everyday life has shifted from the streets to online. you're pulling out, all right? not up and over, up and out. it's forcing americans to get creative and go without life's luxuries, like a haircut. last night i had an idea, i can cut hair. pop singer pink and others showed their experiences taking the scissors into their own hands. meanwhile, the president has praised the coronavirus testing programme being rolled out in the us and says lockdown measures will help save lives. 0ver1 million americans have 110w 0ver1 million americans have now been tested, more than any other country, by far, not even

close. the same modelling also shows that by very vigorously following these guidelines we could save more than 1 following these guidelines we could save more than1 million american lives. think about that. 1 million american lives. for more on the situation in the us, our north america correspondent peter bowes joins me now. no bulletin is complete without dropping in on you. president trump has said the 12th of april, easter sunday, would possibly be the end of the lockdown, churches would be full. speaking today he spoke of another 30 days of lockdown. it seems like a significant change. he isn't talking about easter anymore. apart from the fa ct easter anymore. apart from the fact that he believes that the peak number of deaths in the united states may be in that time period in about two weeks‘ time, certainly as far as the stay—at—home orders are concerned, and they are being extended city by city as we speak, it seems across the country more and more people are being advised simply to stay—at—home unless they work

in those essential services. but the president is saying the next four weeks, the next month, until the end of april, until the guidelines expire, they could be renewed, for all we know, he says it could be a vital period. eventually, he thinks of people adhere to those guidelines up to 1 million lives could be saved. we have seen that hospital ship arriving in new york. 0ur we have seen that hospital ship arriving in new york. our other states, including los angeles, getting the help they have asked for, that they need? to a point. there is another hospital ship mercy, that arrived in los angeles. a similar size. it has 1000 arrived in los angeles. a similarsize. it has 1000 beds, potentially several operating theatres and in fact is already taking patients, non— covid—19 patients, to relieve the stress and the pressure on those hospitals unsure. but with 1000 bedsit hospitals unsure. but with 1000 beds it is already the biggest hospital in the los angeles area. los angeles is a little

bit behind new york and we keep hearing, especially from public officials in new york, this wave of cases will eventually get to places like california. it hasn‘t really hit yet in terms of numbers, but there are still, from local officials here, those dire warnings that more and more pieces of equipment will be needed over the next two or three weeks. peter bowes, as ever, thank you so peter bowes, as ever, thank you so much. here in britain, an entirely new hospital, built from scratch in a conference centre in just a week, will be ready to take its first patients on wednesday. initially, it‘s ready for 500 coronavirus patients, but eventually rising to 4,000. health editor hugh pym has the latest. just a week ago it was a giant conference hall, with room for a dozen football pitches. now it‘s a hospital, with intensive care beds and ventilators, and ready in a few days‘ time to receive the first patients. the capacity eventually

will be 4,000. and if those beds are used, it‘ll be the biggest hospital in the world. sir simon stevens, head of nhs england, toured the site at london‘s excel centre today and met some of those who are making things happen. today, there are over 9,000 positive coronavirus patients in hospitals across england. and we know that number is only going to increase. that‘s why what you see here is a mass mobilisation, taking place right across the country, but also at these new nightingale hospitals. this has been an extraordinary team effort on the part of nurses and doctors, therapists and pharmacists across london, but also volunteers, paramedics and people returning to help. the first staff were applauded in today, volunteers from other hospitals and recently retired doctors and nurses will be caring here for seriously ill covid—19 patients at what‘s now called the nightingale hospital.

there were artic lorries here, last tuesday and wednesday when i was first here, and now we have it fully ready to take some patients. there is still a lot more work to be done. but huge progress, building a hospital in london, nightingale london, in just less than two weeks. it is unbelievable. this is what the hospital could look like with a mortuary. army staff are working with the nhs team to make it a reality. it is in the heart of london‘s docklands with businesses all around. the fact they‘ve transformed this conference centre into a giant hospital so quickly shows how serious they think the pressure on the nhs could be. birmingham‘s national exhibition centre will house a nightingale hospital, so too the central convention centre in manchester. the sec in glasgow will also become a temporary hospital in two weeks‘ time, with space for up to 1,000 patients. the principality stadium in cardiff is set to be used

as an nhs field hospital. and in belfast, a coronavirus assessment centre will open this week. there may be plenty of new hospital beds, but staffing is a problem with an estimate a quarter of doctors are off with a virus or because a member of their household is unwell. i‘ve been off work for a week now because my partner had a temperature last monday. so i self—isolated like you‘re supposed to do, but i‘ve been feeling fine. i had a very mild cough last week, so i probably did catch it. and by the rules, had i been able to be tested soon enough, i could have proved that and gone back to work after a week of isolation. freelance health workers known as locums are frustrated because they feel they don‘t have adequate legal and financial protection. it is vital the government protect us and give us all the equipment. and that includes both sick pay and worker's protections,

as well as the kit we need to be able to do ourjobs to the best of our ability. the lack of protective kit is still said to be a problem by some doctors, nurses and care workers. most are anxious about what the next weeks will bring. they know this new hospital and many others could fill up very quickly with very sick patients, some of whom will not survive their stay. hugh pym, bbc news at the nightingale hospital in london‘s docklands. let‘s get some of the day‘s other news. the who says two deaths have now been recorded in syria. earlier, the health ministry confirmed a woman died from the coronavirus disease on sunday after being taken to hospital. state media have not given a location. several other people have tested positive for the covid—19 respiratory illness, but medics suspect there are many more. there are fears the virus will spread rapidly through vulnerable populations, overwhelming the fragile healthcare system.

there‘s been a sharp fall in new coronavirus cases in italy, the country worst affected by the pandemic. 1,648 new patients were diagnosed in the latest daily tally — that‘s less than half of sunday‘s figure. officials say it‘s evidence the country is heading in the right direction. but the death rate remains stubbornly high. spain has passed a grim milestone in its battle with the coronavirus — overtaking china in the number of infections. there are now more than 85,000 cases in spain. only the united states and italy have more. tough new restrictions have come into force as the capital madrid held a moment of silence to remember those lost. guy hedgecoe reports. the new normal in spain. the country‘s once—buzzing capital is now a virtual ghost town. spain has been in lockdown

for over two weeks. but now that‘s been tightened further, as non—essential workers have been told to stay at home. the spread of the virus through care homes has been one reason why the death rate in spain has been so high. the vast majority of spaniards have been complying with the terms of the national lockdown, but the government hopes that these new reinforced measures will help bring the virus under control and that that in turn will take the pressure off a health care service which is under enormous strain. an all—too—common sight — ambulance after ambulance speeding through the streets. over 12,000 health care workers have contracted the virus and many feel they lack the protection they need, even at this critical stage. translation: it's frightening when your suit rips or when somebody‘s saliva gets on yourface. that‘s when you‘re most afraid.

the government says the measures it‘s been taking are starting to pay off. we're seeing an improvement in the number of infected citizens, we're seeing an improvement in terms of the curve starting to show a different trend. i think it's a little bit unfair to pinpoint to spain being an exceptional case in what i see is a general case around the world. the lockdown has been a challenge for spaniards. a massive change of lifestyle for a society that loves to interact. all sing but, like so many across mainland europe, singing seems to be cathartic — almost the new way to get through it. these young women, who live opposite a hospital, keep their spirits up by cheering the health workers who have suddenly become national heroes. clapping

guy hedgecoe, bbc news, madrid. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: the international olympic committee announces a new start date for the tokyo games. what impact will a year‘s delay have on the preparations? the accident that happened here was of the sort that can at worst produce a meltdown. in this case the precautions worked, but they didn‘t work quite well enough to prevent some old fears about the safety features of these stations from resurfacing. the republic of ireland has become the first country in the world to ban smoking in the workplace. from today, anyone lighting up in offices, businesses, pubs and restaurants will face a heavy fine. the president was on his way

out of the washington hilton hotel, where he had been addressing a trade union conference. the small crowd outside included his assailant. it has become a symbol of paris. 100 years ago, many parisians wished it had never been built. the eiffel tower‘s birthday is being marked by a re—enactment of the first ascent by gustave eiffel. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: a navy hospital ship has arrived in new york as the state‘s governor launches a nationwide appeal for healthcare professionals in the struggle against coronavirus. an entirely new hospital, built from scratch in a conference centre in london injust a week, is preparing to receive its first coronavirus patients. tighter social distancing measures have just come into force in australia, where gatherings of more than two people are now prohibited.

but the country‘s prime minister scott morrison says he‘ll leave it up to each individual state to decide how they enforce the new rules. let‘s get more detail from shaimaa khalil in sydney. talk to us more about what kind of restrictions australia are putting in place. referred from the police commissioner here in new south saying that there will be hefty penalties for those who break the two people rule in public. he said, already 13 tickets have been issued today of people breaking the rule. i think we are seeing a shift in focus, shifting concern in community transmission here in australia. the story focus has been and still is to a large degree, but international travel. about people coming from overseas with the virus and those coming into co nta ct with the virus and those coming into contact with them. two—thirds of australian cases are linked to overseas travel and that is why you saw these

really stringent measures from the beginning. closing the borders, not allowing australians to travel outside and australians coming back an hour quarantining in hotels, not allowed in their own homes. what seeing now as well is tougher measures that can contain a community transmission. so you‘re seeing the two people rule, outside gems, playgrounds, skateboard parks, all of these closing in addition to all of the other closures. we‘ve heard from the health officials here in new south wales talking about a popular outbreak in the bondi area among backpackers and a real concern in the community. they are intensifying testing. more than 200 cases are linked to the ruby princess cruise ship example. many unanswered questions about why so many people were allowed off that ship with six crewmembers taken to hospital as of now. that is what the authorities in the different states are trying to contain. that is why you get these measures being stricter

and stricter, week by week. i'm just wondering if you‘d popped your head out of the door to see what life is like me you. your head out of the door to see what life is like me youlj ta ke see what life is like me you.” take one walk a day to exercise. i have been following the rules. even as recently as this week, you see people out and about. i saw my first five people waiting on the weekend and that is the exception. five people have gone to a wedding and actually look like a normal wedding and it did work was like that is almost a world record. you so much. in india, the government imposed a strict lockdown across the country at four hours notice to stop the spread of coronavirus — it meant hundreds of thousands of people lost theirjobs and are now struggling for food. some are so desperate they‘re leaving the cities they work in — to walk — sometimes hundreds of miles back to their villages. divya arya reports from delhi. panic and chaos. these people, who have moved

across this vast country for work, demand they be allowed to go home. a complete lockdown has meant they have no work and no money. in the country‘s capital, delhi, the desperate head for their far—away villages on foot. journeys so gruelling some won‘t make it home. at least six people have died en route. 0thers scramble onto buses, trying to get out however they can. to curb the movement of people, borders are sealed overnight. but some, like rajit khan and his wife, insist they will march to their village. translation: what can the government do? my son is sick. if they really cared, they wouldn‘t have stopped people from coming out or stopped transport. now, if he dies by the time we reach, who will take responsibility? now the prime minister has apologised to the people, asking them to stay where they are, promising food and shelter.

i‘m outside a food distribution centre being run by the government, and most of the people queueing up here are families of daily—wage labourers who are out of work right now because of the lockdown. some of them could not leave the city to go back to their villages, and some chose to stay. but now, stuck here, they say they‘re totally dependent on government aid. it is a long wait, and mothers complain there is no milk for their children. translation: we are very worried. we have come here to get some food to eat. there are no jobs and money, our children are hungry. the ruling party admits it‘s a huge challenge. in a population of 1.3 billion, hundreds of millions of people are currently observing the lockdown, are currently being able to meet all the requirements that have been put in place. yes, a few million stand

affected, but that‘s what is the effort on to eliminate that problem too. for many, that is a difficult wait, and as the lockdown tightens, they have an uphill journey ahead. divya arya, bbc news, delhi. some more on india‘s lockdown — migrant labourers in uttar pradesh state have been filmed shielding themselves as fire officials hose them down with disinfectant designed to clean buses. the labourers had recently arrived in the town of barilly from nearby cities after the country‘s lockdown was imposed last week. the district magistrate has blamed the incident on over—zealous officials and added that those responsible will be punished. the international olympic committee has announced that the tokyo 0lympic games will go ahead — but one year later than planned. the postponed games will now begin on the 23july 2021 — and will still be officially called the tokyo 2020 games.

japan says its budget for the game ‘s now exceed $25 billion. tobias harris is a japan analyst at teneo intelligence. he sastuly, 2021 is the most logical solution. the japanese government and i think the ioc faced pressure in all directions that eventually... it was an inevitable decision that had to happen. they were strongly criticised, both the ioc and japan, for appearing to delay a decision and eventually it was taken out of their hands by national federations. there‘s a lot of criticism of the ioc injapan, is it merited ? probably not. i mean, once the world health 0rganization said this was a pandemic, looking at what‘s happening in europe, looking at what‘s happening in the united states, the idea you will bring athletes and spectators from all over the world to one place, even ifjapan somehow manages to keep its caseload fairly low, is japan really going to want to have visitors from all over the world bringing potentially new cases and creating new clusters of illness in japan? i don‘t think the japanese

people wanted that, and actually it became clear by the time the decision was made at a large majority of japanese supported delaying. talk us through some of the logistical problems of simply moving everything a year. there‘s all sorts of problems, because you have facilities in tokyo that were leased out assuming the games were this year, then you have to make sure those facilities or substitute facilities are available next year. some of it‘s a real estate problems, that the olympic village for athletes was meant to go to condos, so now developers have to wait to hand over to buyers. there‘s all sorts of plans. the japanese hospitality industry was assuming that they would have a bonanza year — you‘d have all these hotels filled and waves of tourists coming, japan has been preparing for the better part of a decade for a surge in tourism, this was meant to be the big payoff and now all of that is off. that was going to be off anyway once you had a pandemic, but it‘s something the japanese government has to consider to make sure businesses stay afloat without the olympics this year.

0ne fascinating point we‘ve just learned, it‘s still going to be called the 2020 games even though it is in 2021. presumably that stops people having to go round with a can of paint rebranding from 2020 to 2021. does that decision makes sense? they‘ve produced an awful lot of merchandise and if you‘ve gone to official events in tokyo, for the last several years, chances are you will get some 2020 swag. it will be hard to turn around and start putting 2021 on that. it makes sense for symbolic reasons as well, this still was the tokyo 2020 games and we are all thinking 2020 is a really momentous year for everyone in the world basically, and we‘re all going to be thinking about this year, so maybe there‘s some in keeping that. tobias harris. now, how are you getting on? are you slogging through? let me know. you can reach me on twitter —

i‘m @jamesbbcnews. please stay with bbc news. hello. in more ways than one, a lot has changed over the last week, none more so than in the weather, where we saw on tuesday last week the feel of late spring in the north coast of wales — 19 celsius, 63 fahrenheit achieved. a week later, well, we‘re lucky if we reach nine celsius in the same spot, even with some sunshine continuing. that colder theme continues through this coming 24 hours, but a little less chilly. high pressure‘s moved further west so the winds more westerly than northern, and notice the gaps in the isobars, starting to widen, indicating it won‘t be as windy as it has been. that said, a noticeable north—westerly breeze in parts of northern scotland bringing a few rain showers through the day. one or two rain showers in northern ireland and northern england but many will stay dry. sunshine coming and going through the day, the best of which will be in southern counties of england,

east anglia channel islands, sunnier than in recent days, and the breeze won‘t be as strong as it has been, it will probably feel that little bit less chilly. elsewhere, light winds, continuing through tuesday night into wednesday away from the far north of scotland. cloud amounts often large in the night. a few showers in the north and west. where you see any cloud breaks, a bit of frost around, the greatest chance in clear skies in southern counties of england. this is where it‘ll be frostiest to begin wednesday morning. a chilly start, that ridge of high pressurejust in, but changes through the day in the north. the isobars tightening up again, coming closer, breeze picking up and that weather front set to bring some more significant rain — 0rkney and shetland in the morning, and then through the day, the northern half of scotland. away from that, a few showers, plenty of cloud around for the vast majority, and the sunshine will come out later in the north of scotland. while we could see temperatures peaking at ten, it will drop because cold air is on its way. this quite significant area of low pressure pushes from iceland towards norway, introducing gales quite widely across the northern half of scotland, if not severe gales, and a shot of cold air

to see the week out, pushing its way southwards. so, for thursday, cloudy to begin with in the south. a few more showers pushing through the day. brightening up in the north but showers turn wintry, sleet and snow quite abundantly, and temperatures in lower single figures. whereas we‘ve still got temperatures potentially around 12 or 13 in the south—east corner. but the cold snap, thursday into friday, is short—lived. just notice by saturday and the weekend, milder air returns from the south.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a us navy hospital ship has docked in new york to help the city cope with coronavirus. the governor of new york state has described the scale of crisis as staggering and warned that it will spread nationwide. president trump said that social distancing can save more than 1 million american lives. the latest figures for the uk show another 180 people with coronavirus have died, taking the total to 1,408. however, one leading scientist has suggested that transmission of the virus in the community may be decreasing. a three—week nationwide lockdown in india has left hundreds of thousands of informal labourers withoutjobs or wages, triggering an exodus to home villages. this has put huge pressure on the transport system. on monday, the country‘s supreme court said it was becoming a bigger problem than the pandemic.