the uk death toll rises by more than 550 in a day, as the government warns there are harder times ahead. the faces of some of those who've lost their lives to the disease in the past four weeks. this virus does not discriminate. the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest threat our country has faced in decades. and we are not alone. nhs workers queue up to be tested in an ikea carpark as ministers order any spare tests to be used for frontline workers. masks, aprons — almost 400 million items of safety equipment have been delivered in the past fortnight. but some nhs staff tell us they're still running out. thomas harvey, an nhs worker

in his 50s, has died after treating an infected patient. his family say he wasn't wearing any protective equipment. if he'd just had the right equipment then maybe we wouldn't have even been in this predicament, maybe it wouldn't have escalated the way it did and he wouldn't have deteriorated the way that he did. after weeks of strict lockdown in italy — a taste of freedom as some families are able to take their children for a walk. and david hockney in lockdown in france — shares with us some of the ipad drawings that have kept him busy. and coming up on bbc news. wimbledon cancelled for the first time since world war two because of coronavirus, as this summer's entire grass—court season is abandoned.

good evening. there has been another significant rise in the number of people in the uk dying with coronavirus as the government said this invisible killer was the biggest threat our country has faced in decades. 563 patients have died in the uk in the past 2a hours, taking the total number of deaths in hospitals to 2,352 in less than four weeks. the latest increase in deaths is sadly in line with scientific predictions. most of the cases are in london but nhs england says the threat is everywhere and the growing number of hospital admissions in the midlands is now a cause for concern. today it was confirmed that a doctor in hertfordshire — who came out of retirement to help fight the pandemic — has become the 4th front line medic to die. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. hilda churchill who lived through a pandemic a century ago the oldest victim at 108. there is the first

medic to pass away and doing hunt, at my who died on mothering sunday. as coronavirus has taken hold just some of the basis of its hourly victims but as the numbers grow more families lose mothers, daughters, fathers and sons. all our thoughts and prayers are with the families and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives. this is more tragic evidence that this virus does not discriminate. look at how the numbers have grown. from the first case countered by the authorities on the 6th of march than eight days later the daily till reaching double figures. 20 days from the start it reached over 100 and out less than a week later more than 500 people reported to have passed away in 2a hours. volcanic now 2352. along with the rise in cases a slight increase in the number of people on the roads, flouting advice to stay at home. the pick of the disease seems

to be coming earlier than the government expected but you're missing testing targets, there is a lot of evidence of staff not having the equipment they need and not on ventilators. do now accept that the approach and response from government has been too slow? increasing testing capacity is absolutely the top priority for the government and when now at 10,000 tests per day, we're rolling out additional networks at labs and testing sites and in terms of phd, 390 million products have been distributed in the last weeks and of course we will continue to do more. there are frantic efforts under way to make space for those falling ill. in belfast, glasgow, cardiff around the country hospitals are being created from conference centres in just a matter of weeks. but the broad political consensus that has backed the government approach is to fray. what we are calling for is a national testing strategy to ramp up

community testing and contact tracing as we see in other countries. that is how they've been able to beat this virus get it under control. we are not doing it yet so we need that national push for the former tory mp and minister and practising doctor says the government has not moved fast enough. we had anticipated this is a risk, and it beggars belief that we did not act quicker because we knew, we've done an exercise and knew we had these challenges. no ordinary recovering patient, prince charles urges us recovering patient, prince charles urges us all to stick together. as a nation we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation. which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens. none of us can say when this will end but end it will. a time of

anxiety for health and wealth is a current time of political pressure. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. the health secretary matt hancock has ordered any spare coronavirus tests to be used for nhs staff. up until now, staff only were allowed to account for 15 % of all testing, despite some hospitals reporting as many as a quarter of all doctors and nurses being off work in self isolation. the uk can currently carry out more than 12,000 tests a day. yesterday just under ten thousand were conducted. the government is aiming to test 25,000 per day by the end of april. with more, here's our health editor hugh pym. nhs staff getting tested for coronavirus. it is a new pilot scheme in england run by the government and designed to speed up the process and get them back to work quickly if they have been self isolating and need an all clear. but isolating and need an all clear. but is limited at this stage. isolating and need an all clear. but is limited at this stagelj isolating and need an all clear. but is limited at this stage. i work for the general hospital and have been

off work forfour the general hospital and have been off work for four days. i have the general hospital and have been off work forfour days. i have been self isolating. two weeks ago i had bad symptoms and i'm due to come back to work on friday. sol bad symptoms and i'm due to come back to work on friday. so i thought before i come i want to get checked. almost all testing is analysed in hospital and public health laboratories and the problem is they're struggling to keep up with they're struggling to keep up with the workload and until this week had been told to concentrate on patients and not staff. the representative of trusts in england told me about the difficulties that they were experiencing. everyone will be working as hard as they can to increase the number of staff tests but we just need to remember there area but we just need to remember there are a shortages of both swabs and rea g e nts are a shortages of both swabs and reagents someone are a shortages of both swabs and reagents someonejust are a shortages of both swabs and reagents someone just said to me today they've only got three swabs per day to test staff. the first coronavirus case in the uk were announced on the 31st of january and testing of all recent contacts of cases was adopted. 0n the 11th of

march the government announced an aim of10,000 march the government announced an aim of 10,000 tests per day, a week later the prime minister said that this would be more than doubled. we'll massively scale up our testing capacity in the weeks ahead so that its 25,000 tests per day. but this time testing was focused on nhs patients not in the community and on the 19th of march i asked the government chief medical adviser why nhs staff were not been tested. the ability to test their staff, our staff, particularly if they have mild symptoms that mean they could normally go back to work is absolutely critical. on sunday this week nhs england tell hospitals, 15% should be for staff. but yesterday just under 10,000 people were being tested. private sector technology companies with laboratories say that they want to help and just need the government to tell them what is required. we need exact clarity on what it is that i pinch points within the system, we could help within the system, we could help with some of them, we cannot promise to help on all of them but there is a large community out here will be

keen to help. ministers say they're open to suggestions from the private sector and they're open to suggestions from the private sector and they‘ re hoping open to suggestions from the private sector and they're hoping to ramp up initiatives like this and getting a lot more doctors and nurses and other nhs staff tested. hugh pym, bbc news. the government says almost 400 million items of personal protective equipment including masks, alcohol wipes and aprons, have been delivered to nhs staff over the last two weeks. but one london nurse looking after coronavirus patients contacted us, saying her ward is running out of ppe two or three times a day, and she is having to make heartbreaking choices about whether to help patients in trouble because she's being told not to unless she has the kit to protect herself. her dilemma comes as it was confirmed that a nurse in his 50s who treated patients without protective clothing has died. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. southend hospital in essex where staff are threatening to limit care for patients with covid—19 such is

their fear for their own safety. like many nhs staff they say they do not have the correct protective equipment. the hospital says it is fully complying with official guidance on ppe. today london came news of the first member of nursing staff known to have died with covid—19. thomas harvey who worked in mental health and his family are devastated and they blame the government for his death and a lack personal protective equipment. government for his death and a lack personal protective equipmentlj personal protective equipment.” feel like from the start of it if he had just had the right equipment then maybe he would not have been in this predicament and it would not have escalated the weight did and he would not have deteriorated them he did. unions representing health care workers say the lack of ppe for front line workers has become a crisis within a crisis and nurses say that without more ppe there will be more deaths. obviously we know that this virus does not

discriminate and we expect to put ourselves at risk to look after our patients but we also expect to be given adequate equipment. he had the royal college of nursing they feel that the role of nurses has been overlooked. but for weeks no one considerjust how exposed nurses we re considerjust how exposed nurses were to the virus whether working in hospitals, care homes or the community and that unlike some other nhs staff, the work of nurses is almost always up close and personal. the government says it is working around the clock to provide the protective equipment that staff need. it says in the past two weeks with the help of the army it has delivered 390 million pieces of equipment with another 4.7 million facemasks today. but doctors say it is not just about the quantity facemasks today. but doctors say it is notjust about the quantity of equipment they are receiving but also the quality. the packs are inadequate and they are very few items in them and they simply will

not be enough to protect staff for more than if few hours at most and we know that this is a virus that potentially is deadly to people that catch it. what we seen from italy and china and elsewhere is if we do not get this right then doctors and nurses will die. tomorrow new official guidelines are expected to be published about which protective items each health care worker it needs in order to stay safe. ensuring that those items are delivered is likely to be an ongoing challenge for the government. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. the coronavirus is so new — that scientists are learning about it all the time and there's still a lot of confusion about what it does to people's bodies. how much do we now know about what the virus does to us once we've caught it? here's our medical correspondent, fergus walsh. the virus uses its surface proteins, these spikes on the outside, to hook onto a docking point on the surface of human cells. after it has docked, the coronavirus is able to insert its genetic material,

rna, into the cell. once inside, it hijacks the machinery of the cell nucleus to make multiple copies of itself. these burst out of the cell, destroying it, and then infect other cells. now, for most people, their immune system mounts a response and they begin to feel better after around five days. but in some, the immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking the lungs and other organs as well as the virus. this can cause pneumonia and breathing difficulties and damage to other organs. hugh pym joins me now. 563 people have died in the past 24 hours in the uk but we are being prepared for much bigger daily rises than that even by the end of this week? that figure looks shocking, experts who look at the trajectory of these things and how fast it is

going say that it is dabbling twice ina week going say that it is dabbling twice in a week now. that is slightly slower than earlier in the epidemic but even so you would expect to see it at 1000 deaths per day by the weekend. in terms of case numbers it is harder to read too much into that. they are growing quite fast but of course more tests are being done so you get more but of course more tests are being done so you get more cases but of course more tests are being done so you get more cases being diagnosed. the public health england representative at the press conference talked also about hospital admissions in england. she said there is a threat everywhere and at the midlands is a concern as well as london. so that is that increase which is going to put yet more pressure on hospitals over the next few weeks as we get towards what is said to be the peak of this epidemic. one of the hardest, cruellest parts of all this is burying the dead, and the fact that social distancing rules mean hardly anyone can attend a funeral now. maybe ten people at most, all two metres apart. cremations are closed to the public.

only a small number of mourners are allowed at graveside burials. some funerals are now being streamed online. 0ur ireland correspondent emma vardy reports. the last time i seen her was when she was being put into the ambulance. it's heartbreaking. just heartbreaking. i wouldn't wish it on anyone. no church service, only a prayer at the graveside for anne best from fermanagh, who died from coronavirus. after a lifetime together, her husband of 51 years, tom, now in isolation, was unable to be with her at the end. i told myself that i was going to break all the rules and walk up there and see her buried, and i couldn't do that because it would be selfish on the other people. at least now they're together and they're not suffering any more, you know, or in pain. yeah.

so that's the main thing. quarantine is a lonely place to grieve. i'll put you on speaker. can you hear me 0k there? ican hearyou. we reached out to fiona in belfast, on the weekend both her mother and her father died from the virus within hours of each other. we held their hands and were hoping even though they were not conscious, we are hoping they could hear us and knew that we were there. we got to say at least goodbye, which, we know a lot of families haven't had that chance. her mother isobel will be buried but her father christopher, known as arty, wished to be cremated, which will have to take place without any family there. we can't even do the normal — we are in ireland wake, you know. my mum would love it, my dad would love a big celebration. playing elvis. why did you want to share this? this is something we would never, ever normally do, but i want to do it in their memory and also to raise

awareness about how real and serious this is. because, you know, they are notjust a statistic any more. it is heartbreaking for all our family. and nobody is able to do the natural things they would want to reach out and do. everyone... we are alljust in our houses, you know, all trying to stay safe. yeah, no, it's just... it's hard enough losing both your parents, especially so close together, but then you can't do the normal process and you can't, you know. so, yes, it is very, very hard. normally in northern ireland, large funerals are a common sight, so the restrictions feel all the more stark. no more than ten people can be at a graveside and with mourners still compelled to socially distance, it is changing the way we are able to grieve. those who stand beside the bereaved must ensure restrictions are respected. none of us want to do this. we want to assist our bereaved families. we don't want to get to the stage where it is just going to be us and the grave—diggers and the minister at the graveside. it's a hard conversation to have.

but i mean, we feel as funeral directors we can still stand together with the bereaved and help them through it in a dignified and most respectful manner that we've done for years. mourning the dead is often said to be as much about a celebration of life and many people who have lost someone during this time are hoping to arrange more fitting services for their loved ones when the restrictions have passed. but right now, the full grieving process is on hold. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. the business secretary alok sharma has given a warning to banks, after many small and medium—sized firms said they couldn't get one of the emergency loans promised by the government. new research suggests nearly a million uk businesses arejust weeks from going bust. at today's daily press briefing, mr sharma said banks had a duty to step in to help, and that ministers were looking at ways to ensure companies got the support they needed. pressure is building for online fashion retailers to improve protection for warehouse workers, who are worried about getting infected with the virus.

employees at the asos warehouse in barnsley have told the bbc they think it's impossible to social distance when they're at work and they simply don't feel safe. union leaders say unless improvements are made at clothing warehouses and distribution centres across the uk, they must close immediately. 0ur consumer affairs correspondent sarah corker reports from barnsley. workers clocking on at the asos warehouse near barnsley. but with so many people arriving at the same time, it's hard to keep two metres apart, despite the best efforts of these marshals. can you keep two metres from people? the bbc has spoken to employees who say that they feel unsafe and are not being properly protected. their voices have been changed. queues are still forming at the lockers to get our equipment. the choice is go to work and potentially die, or struggle with your finances. and now a manager has spoken out for the first time. when you have ten, 20,

30 people asking you on shift what is happening and you cannot answer those questions, they are scared and upset because they feel like the company doesn't care. asos and xpo logistics, who run this site, refute these allegations. they say they are not putting workers at risk and insist they are complying with current requirements. some of the 3000 staff here say they are to seeing positive changes. we have enough space between us in the lockers. we have sanitiser, we have masks. the government principle says on—time —— online retail remains vital to the country's economy. what these businesses have to do is make their employee these businesses have to do is make theiremployee —— these businesses have to do is make their employee —— employ safe, not just this one but businesses across the country. if they cannot put the measures in place, they should cease to trade. similar concerns over social distancing have been raised at the matalan warehouse on merseyside, jd sports in rochdale and boohoo and burnley. bosses at

those sites that they had taken action. everyone who is continuing to operate is really thinking very carefully about all the procedures they have in place. looking after their staff and getting the best chance to enable the economy to get back up and running. asos say they have made changes including reducing the number of staff in the warehouse at any one time, enforcing strict social distancing to work and relaxation areas and offering additional pp to staff a request then. some retailers like next have closed their online operations. asos say by staying open, they are protecting thousands of local jobs, but the debate over what is essential during this health and economic emergency rages on. sarah corker, bbc news, in barnsley. in italy, the stringent lockdown measures have been extended, although families can now take their children for a walk outside if needed. it comes as the death toll in the country climbs by 727

in the past 24 hours, which is slightly down on yesterday's increase. it takes the country's total number of deaths to more than 13,000. of those, at least 66 are front line medical staff. from rome, mark lowen reports. a glimpse of freedom in italy's new normal. parents are now allowed to take their children out for a brief walk, if urgent. after three weeks of lockdown, it is a breath of liberty, but no more. welcomed, albeit with apprehension. translation: we are scared to be outside and a bit spaced out because this lockdown has been our salvation. the measures are working, i'm happy they are in place and we want them to go on. translation: this eases the tension. we are not used to staying inside the whole day. we need some natural light. children need some space. the infection rate is slowing and there is perhaps a little bit more movement on the streets.

but the fear is that if the restrictions are lifted too soon, people could get a false sense of security and then the numbers could start jumping again. because italy is still far from defeating this virus. deaths are still soaring and among them, doctors. gynaecologist roberto milletti died this week, one of 66 doctors lost to the outbreak here. his friend said the deaths were preventable if medics had proper masks and supplies. translation: we are very shocked, he was much loved. and we are very angry because we are lacking protection equipment for doctors. we feel vulnerable. wars must be organised during peacetime, not battle. we are being sent in empty—handed, in italy and around europe. so young, inventive italians have stepped in to help, using 3d printing to develop a valve that turns a sports shop snorkelling mask into a ventilator. the blueprint has been downloaded for free a million times by hospitals in need

across the world. two days ago, it was my birthday, and i received a message from brazil in which a doctor said to me that 130 people were breathing thanks to my idea, and i was very, very happy. i cannot receive a better present for my birthday. italians are generally following the rules, but some frustration is starting to show. in the south, anger over a loss of money and closed shops. it is isolated, but patience has its limits. today, the lockdown was extended to mid—april so the emptiness goes on. perhaps never again in our lifetime will we see rome like this. the virus is sucking the life out of italy. mark lowen, bbc news, rome. president trump has told americans they are in the midst of a great national trial unlike any the us has faced before. he said a rough two—week period lay ahead as the coronavirus pandemic reached its peak there.

almost 2,000 people have died in new york state alone. new york's governor warned the rest of america to look at us today and see yourselves tomorrow. 0ur north america editorjon sopel is in washington. sophie, thank you, yes, donald trump said it was a matter of life and death when he briefed reporters last night. there was something about his tone that was totally different. it was urgent and you could sense the sombre nature of the message he was having to deliver to the american people. if that didn't frighten americans, i think something the vice president mike pence has said today certainly well. he was asked where america is on its coronavirus journey, and he said the comparative that we ought to look at is italy. i think for the first time, you have got the scientists, the doctors, the public health experts on the same page as the administration, marching

in lockstep. 0ne page as the administration, marching in lockstep. one area where washington feels entirely different to the rest of the countries that donald trump is saying everything is fine with regards to testing, they have got ppe equipment out to all the people who need it. listen to the people who need it. listen to the front line, where this war is being fought, and it is a totally desperate picture. there are problems with testing. there are problems with testing. there are problems of overcrowded hospitals and there are problems of getting the testing done that is so badly needed. john sobel, thank you. this summer's wimbledon tennis tournament has been cancelled for the first time since world war ii. the all england lawn tennis club chairman said it is going to use the breadth of the tournament's resources to help local communities during this time. the edinburgh festival, due to take place in august, has also been called for the first in 73 years —— it 73 history, the five events normally attract more than 4 million visitors to the scottish capital. the champions league and europa league

have also been suspended until further notice. and with so many games cancelled, there's increasing pressure on premier league players and managers to accept pay cuts. both newcastle and spurs have applied to the government's funding scheme to help pay the wages of their backroom staff. but their first team players, on multi—million pound salaries, are still being paid in full. katie gornall reports. they are one of the world's richest clubs, with a state—of—the—art stadium, but it seems even that doesn't make you immune at times like these. tottenham hotspur announced 550 of its nonplaying staff will take a 20% pay cut for the next two months, and they will be using the government's furlough scheme in order to protectjobs. but for a club with a chairman paid £7 million, an owner worth £4 billion, and players earning on average £70,000 per week, many have questioned if this is the right approach. i think it sticks in the throat because at the moment, they are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds a week to their premier league stars,

while at the same time asking the taxpayer to pay their nonplaying staff who are maybe only on hundreds of pounds a week. and spurs are not the only premier league club struggling with the current crisis. norwich, bournemouth and newcastle united, owned by billionaire mike ashley, will also furlough non—playing staff, utilising taxpayer money and topping up salaries so they will be paid in full. newcastle became the first premier league club to do this. they e—mailed staff on monday saying the decision to furlough them had been taken in order to safeguard the club's future, but across the football world, there are other clubs taking different steps in order to cut costs. it would go down so much better if the players came out and said "this is what we want to do, we had a meeting, this is what we are doing as a group, this is what we're doing as a team, we are going to take a pay cut, are going to take a reduction in our wages because we want to do it. we want to give it to the nhs.

we want to give it to wherever the money is going to go." barcelona players like lionel messi are taking a 70% pay cut to help nonsporting staff. atjuventus, the players and manager agreed to freeze their pay temporarily, while eddie howe became the first premier league manager to take a voluntary pay cut. and in the championship, leeds united's players and senior staff have volunteered to take a wage deferral. the rest could soon follow, with the subject set to be discussed by clubs and players unions. football will return before too long, but how it handles this crisis will not be forgotten. katie gornall, bbc news, newcastle. one of britain's most celebrated artists, david hockney, is in lockdown in northern france. he's been busy drawing the arrival of spring on his ipad in the garden of his house in normandy. he has shared ten of them with our arts editor will gompertz, drawings which have never been seen before, and he has spoken about his thoughts on the role of art in life. dearwill, in 2018,jp,

my assistant and i came to normandy after the window was put up in westminster abbey. we loved it here, and i suggested tojp this would be a great place to draw and paint the arrival of spring. there are apple, pear, cherry and plum blossom, with hawthorn and blackthorn. east yorkshire only had blackthorn and hawthorn. we found this house with a large garden that was cheaper than anything in sussex. we bought it. i began straight away, drawing on a japanese foldout book. i drew all around the house and then i drew the house itself. these were exhibited in new york in september 2019. being a smoker, i do not care for new york, so i never went. we came back here to normandy on march the 2nd. i began drawing the winter trees on my new ipad. then the virus started. i went on drawing the winter trees that eventually burst into blossom. this is the stage we're at right now. meanwhile, the virus is going mad and many people said my drawings