there is more work to do. the precise nature of what will follow the current regime will be agreed this is bbc news. we will be over the coming days. but i must leave welsh citizens in no doubt, bringing you the latest on the daily briefings from the government on the efforts we are all making are coronavirus, but first, the not yet over. they will not be over headlines. next week. before the restrictions the prime minister remains in intensive care in hospital being can be lifted and the return to treated for coronavirus. downing street says he is in a stable condition and responding to normality begins, there is more for treatment. he is comfortable, stable all of us to do. i thank every one and in good spirits. while he has of those thousands and thousands of had oxygen, he has not been on a people in wales who make a ventilator. the uk looks set to contribution every day and will go record its highest daily number of on doing so over the days ahead. hospital deaths from coronavirus mark drakeford on doing so over the days ahead. mark dra keford announcing after 828 are reported in england on doing so over the days ahead. mark drakeford announcing earlier that the lockdown in wales would alone. more than two weeks into the definitely continue beyond next uk wide lockdown, the government monday. they are not staying for how says it is too early to think about easing restrictions. in wales, the long. first minister has confirmed

restrictions there will continue. more than 9 million workers are the government target to reach expected to be furloughed under the 100,000 tests per day by the end of the month labelled a stretch. a government'sjob retention expected to be furloughed under the government's job retention scheme. spain records a further rise in representative of the francis crick deaths. more than 14,500 have died institute explain how his research unit is upping the numbers when it there. life in wuhan, the chinese comes to testing but the 100,000 figure is ambitious. about three city where that pandemic began, weeks ago we decided at the francis sta rts city where that pandemic began, starts to return to normal as some crick institute that testing would restrictions are lifted. in other be important, but it particularly news, just breaking, a lorry driver testing of health care staff would from northern ireland pleads guilty to the manslaughter of 39 people, be critical, from duke and we including one child, who were found dead inside a refrigerated truck in essex. thought those with moderate resources would be better equipped by getting health care workers back to work. we are a research laboratory and we have repurposed ourselves and we are testing at a moderate scale. it's right to have downing street says the prime minister remains stable in hospital and is responding to treatment. he

is in intensive care suffering from big facilities but that difficulty is getting them to work quickly. if symptoms of coronavirus. number ten says he remains in good spirits. they had been planned a year or two foreign secretary dominic raab, who is deputising for mrjohnson chaired the regular morning meeting to ago, but we did think it would be a discuss the government response to the coronavirus strategy. the death toll is around the uk, 366 have died slower process given the complexity of it. we have been trying to get in scotland, 216 in wales and 78 in northern ireland. in england, a further 828 have died from the virus ours going, which we have, and taking the total number of deaths to perhaps that can be an example to others across the country, so 6483. in other developments, ministers insist it is too early to although we start easing lockdown restrictions that were put in place more than two weeks ago. the government has had more than 20,000 nhs workers and theirfamilies have more than 20,000 nhs workers and their families have been tested for coronavirus now. nhs nightingale, then that would complement the big the temporary field hospital in mega labs that are being set up in london at the excel conference three places in the uk. that was the centre has taken its first patients.

we will bring you the latest downing logic behind why we did it stop what to do volunteer to do it or were you street conference this afternoon and building up to that we will have the asked to do it? we volunteered to latest on the current situation in it. three weeks ago i e—mailed ten the uk. first, on the health of the prime minister, here is our downing st so they would be aware of political correspondent nick what we were doing. i don't think we ea rdley. got a reply but we did inform them. very little is normal around here just now. westminster would usually be buzzing with activity on a wednesday morning. instead, the streets, like so much there has been some informal discussions with the office of life of the country, are empty. behind closed doors, ministers have diverted huge resources sciences, not involving me, but to fighting the coronavirus. actually things have got much more the prime minister, though, useful in the last week since we remains here this afternoon, in intensive care, still made our announcement. and now we fighting the virus. are working much more closely with as i understand, he is comfortable, the department of health and of he's stable, he's in good spirits. course all the time i should say while he's had oxygen, he hasn't been on a ventilator, and i think that we are all, that the university college london certainlyjudging by the messages i'm getting hospital and their diagnostic services, we have done it together, from my constituents and others, which is extremely helpful. there and from across the political spectrum, everyone is rooting are which is extremely helpful. there a re lessons which is extremely helpful. there are lessons to be learnt there, and for the prime minister there may even be lessons for mega to have a full and speedy recovery. la bs there may even be lessons for mega labs because it's notjust a mrjohnson is said to be in good question of getting laboratory facilities in place, that's spirits and can contact those important, but it's also a question that he needs in number 10.

of getting the workflow operating this afternoon, downing street has well. the workflow from hospitals, said the prime minister through the regulatory issues, these is clinically stable and is responding to treatment. are all very complicated and if you so far, that treatment has are all very complicated and if you are going to have a mega centralised involved the use of oxygen, lab then you have to solve all those but not the use of a ventilator, which would be far more problems. we have solved them invasive and serious. locally but they will have to be the foreign secretary, dominic raab, solved on a national the efforts we are all making art chaired this morning's not yet over. they will not be over strategy meeting again, next week. before the restrictions as he stands in for borisjohnson. can be lifted... i thank the thousands of people in wales who how is the prime minister, foreign secretary? he's fine. will make their contribution every day and will do so over the days ahead. announcing their that the the prime minister lockdown in wales would continue beyond next monday. the government's is just fine, he says. target to run 100,000 coronavirus tests by the end of the month is a but in the absence of mrjohnson, stretch according to the head of coronavirus. gang leaders have halted turf wars and turned their there are still decisions to be made delivery networks usually used for and a strategy to implement, drug trafficking to get through to like when the restrictions on our lives might start to be eased. poor households instead. 0ur africa by law, ministers have to review correspondent andrew harding regulations every three weeks. reports. the first review will be next week. but with the experts saying these are some of the most dangerous streets in that we haven't necessarily reached south africa, and the world. the peak of the crisis, poor communities, fought over relentlessly by rival drug gangs. yesterday, mr raab made clear but, today, a virus the government still thinks and a nationwide lockdown may have there is work to be done. achieved what the police — we will take any decision even the army — have failed to do here. when the time is right based on facts and the scientific

and medical advice and our number this is the american gang's turf. one overriding focus right now most of these men have been is to remain absolutely focused injail — some are killers. on conveying the key message, but today, instead of selling which is, everyone needs to keep adhering to this guidance. drugs and robbing people, and here's a reminder of why. they're bagging up food supplies for hungry families. in scotland, new figures say i got a phone call from two coronavirus was mentioned different gang leaders, both saying, "andy, i've never asked on 354 death certificates, you for anything, but we're starving." significantly higher and ijust thought, "hey, than the figures published daily, if these guys are starving, they're at the top of the food which cover deaths in hospitals. chain, then the rest of the community is going to be the number of deaths covered under in serious, serious strife." this reporting system is therefore to help, the gangs are drawing larger than under the daily system when you compare the two on their own particular skill set. figures on the same date. it is also unfortunately almost the best distributors in the country, they know how to distribute things! they're used to distributing other white powders! certainly more accurate. but still, they're distributing things, and they know everybody. ina so, what does the community in a virtual meeting of the wales make of the criminals‘ assembly, the minister said the sudden change of focus? lockdown would not be lifted yet. there is relief here, for sure, these restrictions will not end that a gang ceasefire has taken hold during the lockdown. then. we will not throw away the gains we have made on the lives we we live to help each other, can save by abandoning our efforts even if it's gangsters.

just as they begin to bear fruit. even if it's not gangsters. there's no such thing as gangsterism. in these times, all a few weeks ago, scenes like this of us stand together. were almost unthinkable. now, they're a part of life, but it is hard to tell what people here really think and could be for a while yet. about the men who've terrorised their nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. neighbourhoods for decades. the authorities are sceptical. political correspondent helen catt is in westminster for i don't think it exonerates political correspondent helen catt is in westminsterfor us. let's political correspondent helen catt is in westminster for us. let's talk you when you've done so much evil — about the prime minister and the latest update we have from downing one good deed doesn't suddenly wipe it all away. street, he is still in icu but maybe they can commit to slightly more long—term good. stable. this is the latest official put down the firearms permanently and stop intimidating information from downing street and robbing residents — given to them by the prime then we're good. minister's medical team at st because of the lockdown, thomas's hospital just minister's medical team at st thomas's hospitaljust over the river here from westminster. they i'm not able to film with cameraman barnaby mitchell and producer karen say he remains clinically stable but schoonbee. is responding to treatment, and is i'm injohannesburg, not cape town. but two gang leaders agreed still in intensive care. he has not to talk over the phone. been put on a ventilator but has do you think south africa and your community will be been put on a ventilator but has been given oxygen treatment, we changed by this experience? understand. he said to be in good spirits. we can take from that that he is still able to communicate and yes, maybe it will. we are told he has the ability to it must be peace. and that's what's happening now, yes? contact everyone that he needs to, yes. do you think this will last?

although downing street confirmed maybe, maybe not, yes. the assumption that he is not so, once the virus is over, working. downing street also said maybe the fighting will start again? maybe the fighting will start again. but i trust in god. there was at number ten are hugely god will make a way. grateful for the messages of support that have been sent to the prime minister although the spokesman couldn't say for sure whether or not so, a temporary ceasefire, a temporary lockdown, and just the sliver of a chance borisjohnson was personally that the virus will bring lasting couldn't say for sure whether or not boris johnson was personally aware of the support he has been sent. change to some of the most dangerous that's the latest we have on the streets in the world. andrew harding, bbc condition of his health. he is not working, so that does mean dominic news, south africa. raab, foreign secretary, is still deputising for him at the moment. we will hear more questions about the prime minister and his health later when we have this daily press spain says for the second successive conference at about 5pm. what else day there has been a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by a can we expect? there are a lot of things on the key strategy that the coronavirus. 757 people lost their government is putting in place. lives in a day, an increase of 14 on dominic raab stepping in for the prime minister to oversee that the previous day bringing the government strategy that he is very cumulative death toll to just over clear was put in place by boris 14,500 since the outbreak began. johnson so key parts of that include getting testing up to 100,000 tests however, a senior who adviser per day and we now know more than visiting spain has told an online 20,000 nhs staff have been tested. news briefing that the outbreak there is definitely slowing down.

there are now 13 drive through testing sites were 9000 people have been tested in total but now they i don't want to use the word are looking at around 14,000 tests optimism because in the face of carried out per day so that needs a destruction that is a small word but significant increase before the end of the month although the government there is hope and evidence that this say they are on track to do that. outbreak is slowing down. a lorry the other thing that has been a big issue today, what happens in terms of lifting the lockdown restrictions that were put in place. the reason driver has pleaded guilty to the that's coming up this week, when manslaughter of 39 people found dead borisjohnson that's coming up this week, when boris johnson announced to that's coming up this week, when ina manslaughter of 39 people found dead in a refrigerated lorry in essex borisjohnson announced to the last october. maurice robinson who nations these new restrictions, staying at home and not leaving is 25 and from craigavon in northern ireland was appearing via video link other than for buying food and at the old bailey. let's talk to our exercise, he said that would be kept home affairs correspondent daniel under constant review and he would look at them again in three weeks' time. three weeks from that address sandford. apologies, we can see him would be monday. it's also written into the legislation, which gives but we can't hear him. police the powers to enforce these we will go back to that story as rules, a clause that says the soon as we can. most children across secretary of state for health should the uk have now been at home for review the need for these restrictions every 21 days and the nearly three weeks since their closed as we head into easter first review has to happen before weekend. how are parents getting on

the 16th of april which is next and what activities are they coming thursday. although it doesn't set up and what activities are they coming up with to keep youngsters occupied? out what that review has to be or frankie mccamley reports. consist of, so i think we might get some questions on that and it doesn't necessarily mean they will hello everybody, it is mr soc here. change. to be honest, all the shall we do some maths? we are going soundings from government over the last few weeks have been that it is very unlikely we will see them crazy! this morning i've been called relaxed. they are talking about a doughnut and a loser. tell me a needing to get us through the peak of the virus. again that is tough time in your life. what's 15? something i think might come up at the press conference, in terms of how they decide what the peak isn't tough time in your life. what's15? they are basically rampaging around the house. mr edwards has taken what the measure is for that. we don't know exactly what the measure leave of his senses. will be and that will be asked of the medical experts potentially this # this home—schooling is driving me afternoon. i think those are some of crazy... # the big issues we will see coming up. helen, thank you. we can speak sound familiar? when schools across the uk closed their doors kitchens across the uk became the new to health correspondence lauren moss. 0ne classrooms. if you think that's to health correspondence lauren moss. one thing is for sure today that will worry a lot of people, the incorrect, how do you spell it death toll. we have already had correctly? parents became the new figures for england, the highest daily death toll so far. these are teachers. numbers of deaths recorded up five do you think russsell can

draw you a fraction? o'clock yesterday. for england, the learning from home, the new norm. i love fractions! figures of 828 patients recorded to some are having more have died after testing positive for fun than others. coronavirus. that's the thing single trying to work from home, and homeschool, is, i would say, nearly impossible. i'm not convinced that we're really highest total we have seen in one achieving very much. children came home with textbooks day but it is in line with and links to online learning. scientific predictions. not to 0thers brought back understate how concerning and how sad this is with patients losing practice papers for exams. their lives in hospital. but looking parents, though, are finding each at the trend and taking the overall school's approach is different, as are their kids'. picture, notjust at the trend and taking the overall picture, not just an at the trend and taking the overall picture, notjust an isolated 24 hours, it is important to take that 0ne came back from school with a complete itinerary into context and look at how the of what his school day is, coronavirus is behaving in each from english, maths, science, individual country, and what we are minute by minute — it was fantastic. seeing with the right is that over the other child tried to convince us the last few weeks, death rates have that they'd done four hours of pe every day. been doubling every 3.5 days so so, it's life lessons today. with holidays cancelled and staycations on the cards, parents are being more imaginative. a field trip... are you having fun, boys? yeah. ..to the garden. a pe lesson and a music class. scientific predictions told us we the advice is to do

what you can and have fun. so, it's ten squared minus two squared. exactly... could have expected 1400 new debts like this family, posting videos online when the parents get it wrong. to be recorded yesterday and it was two is smaller, which means it's ten — you times that by... you times... ten... lower than that. there was a dip a so... frankie mccamley, bbc news. couple of days before that, as there tends to be at the weekend, so what we have seen today could be as a result of the drop of the weekend, and it is still difficult to say at we arejoined by this stage but we need to look at we are joined by lizzie webb often known as mad lizzie who was a the overall picture. it is still a very worrying increase but it is lower than it could have been and it is lower than the figures told us to expect. will get wider figures later this afternoon. the department of presenter on the breakfast show and health collates the figures for across the uk and also the number of tests a nd across the uk and also the number of tests and positive test results up until nine o'clock in the morning. is also a volunteer at schools to we should get those this afternoon. how is testing going? we had news this afternoon about a new sort of diagnostic business consortium, as it is called by the department of health, involving pharmaceutical giants like glaxosmithkline and make lessons more engaging for astrazeneca. it's working on antibody tests. this is a big children. good afternoon. i have a strategy of the government, there is lot of sympathy and empathy with not on antibody test yet that is those parents, i have three children of my own at home being reliable, but they want 100,000 home—schooled. it is not easy. of my own at home being home—schooled. it is not easym isn't but there are lots of physical tests per day carried out by the end activities they can do at home whilst their parents are working. of april. that's a big target. they most people have a ball in their

houses, their flats, might rely on swab testing. that's most people have a ball in their houses, theirflats, wherever most people have a ball in their houses, their flats, wherever they are and they can roll a ball and say the numbers to each other, they can test for the virus in someone's system. the antibody testing checks throw the ball, but the thing i whether somebody has had the virus and whether they might be immune to particularly like doing is times tables. by the time they get to year it. but that immunity is still being researched. we are hearing fourin pharmaceutical companies are now tables. by the time they get to year four in the primary schools they are working on antibody tests to detect supposed to know the times tables so whether someone has had the virus i've come up with lots of actions and a lab is being set up alongside that every single times table we do. cambridge university that could aim are you willing to have a go, to carry out 30,000 antibody tests sophie? my goodness, i'm not sure! i per day by the start of may, that's will see what you are offering just under one months. the government also asking lots of first! it is very easy, every single table i have devised as a theme. companies to provide swabs and tubes and all the equipment needed for an times six has sports actions and it antibody test, that will be crucial goes like this. one time six sequel in the longer term. a lot of people will be wondering about the lockdown. helen said on monday we six, two times six equals 12, three will be three weeks and very few times six is 18 month full—time six people expect that to be lifted. and 24, five time six it 30. they are with wales today, we heard in the previous report, they have already all very recognisable signs, so said wales will not be lifting a during the physical action has a lockdown on monday. perhaps a lot of correlation to the mental recall. so people looking forward to the easter weekend, or they were doing up until

this outbreak and now all those ifigo16 plans are cancelled. the lockdown is very much in place and i don't think correlation to the mental recall. so ifigo 16 is correlation to the mental recall. so if i go 16 is six. can you remember the next one? from usain bolt will we will expect to see any relaxation of measures. although the rate of go to mo farah. two times six equals new cases is slowing down we are still seeing new cases every day. 12. one time six is six, two times under 4000 every day, but they are still increasing and we will only see the impact of social distancing measures come into effect after three weeks because of the incubation period of the virus being six is 12, and into the haka. that's anything between five and 14 days. one table. another table times nine we have dance moves, the funky soi chicken, we have the hand jive, and anything between five and 14 days. so i don't think we can expect any it has to finish with, guess who? 11 relaxation of the measures. the government has until next thursday times nine equals 99,12 to make an announcement on that but it has to finish with, guess who? 11 times nine equals 99, 12 times nine i don't think it will be a huge equals... i can't hear anyone! we announcement. lauren, thank you. the are letting you do all of the maths. long easter weekend is coming up. the lockdown across the uk will be i'm sitting here thinking it is all put to the test. new polling very well, the ideas you have come up very well, the ideas you have come up with our great, but most parents suggests there is broad public support for the way police are are battling with children and enforcing the rules, as our health screens and children and television and children who think i'm not in correspondence catherine burns school, i don't want to sit down and reports. learn. how do you say to them, this is not what lockdown

you've got to do this? that's why is meant to look like. sunbathers on the beach, overflowing car parks, busy footpaths and pavements. this is fun. i'm going to put these but many people have been sticking to the rules — on youtube so that people can copy. staying at home to help stop i have lots of films where classes the spread of coronavirus. are doing it so they will be able to we are 16 days into lockdown, and now there is some tune in and have fun and feel like very cautious optimism. it's possible that we're they are back in school in a class. beginning to see the start and for the little ones withjoggy of a change, where we might see numbers flattening off. we won't be sure about that bear there are lots of exercises and for a week or so, and we need to keep looking at it, they canjoin bear there are lots of exercises and they can join in. you say that but it does begin to suggest that exercise is important for children things might be moving in the right and learning. you realise when you have children at home and you can direction in terms of numbers, only go out with them once a day, i and it's important that we carry on with the measures that we've got now realise that i think about how in place in order to make sure much exercise my children have been doing and the sport they have been that this does go in the right direction. doing and the sport they have been doing at school and they cannot now and now, with a four—day weekend doing at school and they cannot now do it but it's really important for where the weather is expected them to keep doing it and keep them to stay warm for most of the uk, that message is being active. it is and that's like one of reinforced over and again. the tables my time is 11, that is a it's really important for us warm up, to follow the rules — the tables my time is 11, that is a warm up, so the tables my time is 11, that is a warm up, so i go through the body exercise once a day, keep your distance from one another. from 1—12 and transfer that to times you shouldn't be sunbathing and having picnics. tables. unfortunately, we don't have

those things lead to the virus any examples to show but it is all spreading faster, which puts more very clear once they can see it. for pressure on the nhs, which will mean more people dying. the really little children under a poll suggests that five we teach them counting 1—20 most people support how the rules are being enforced. which is what they need to do in around three quarters questioned reception so we are jumping up—and—down doing that and stretching and touching our toes, by yougov said they were comfortable doing different positions, so they are learning forwards and backwards. thought some officers so really, if they have a programme like that to follow the parents know had gone too far. they are not onlyjust doing 29—year—old nurse physical activities and utilising becca mack died at home that energy, they are also learning, in northumberland on sunday night. which is why i've called it learning she'd been sick with coronavirus for around two weeks. herfriend sarah had to phone around 0n which is why i've called it learning on the move. we know that boys, for letting people know. example, learn much better through movement. all of the research shows that, so why do we expect them to be sitting down while they learn? we need to do programmes like this so it was a time stand still moment, is that they are learning, or their basic numeracy, their maths, a real day of calling people and numeracy, while they are on the hearing people's heartbreak on the phone. is there anything else you move. lizzie, thank you very much wa nt to for all those ideas for parents phone. is there anything else you want to add? i know that the longer stuck at home trying to entertain

this goes on the easier it is for their children and get them learning. thank you. we were trying to talk to daniel sandford a while ago about the lorry driver who has people to feel like the rules are pleaded guilty to the manslaughter relaxing, but please stay at home of 39 people who were found dead in a refrigerated lorry in essex last and please, please tell yourfriends to stay at home and tell them how 0ctober. maurice robinson who is from northern ireland appeared by much you love them frequently video link at the old bailey. we can because you just don't know. meanwhile, the new temporary nhs hear from video link at the old bailey. we can hearfrom daniel video link at the old bailey. we can nightingale hospital in london has hear from daniel sandford now. video link at the old bailey. we can hear from daniel sandford nowm started taking its first patients. was an unusual hearing at court we are not at the peak for this number five at the old bailey, the virus yet and until we are past that judge mrjustice sweeney was there in his wig and gown is but almost we can realistically expect more all of the lawyers appeared by home, orfrom their offices m essa 9 es we can realistically expect more m essa g es to we can realistically expect more all of the lawyers appeared by home, or from their offices via video messages to tell us to stay at home. link. all five of the defendants in as the uk coronavirus death toll the case today appeared by video surpasses the 6000 mark, many will be wondering how long it will be link from prison and even with the until the death rate declines, when media were watching at home on skype we will see a flattening of the so it was unusual hearing but nonetheless a dramatic hearing curve and at what point can social because when the charges were put to maurice robinson, the 25—year—old distancing measures be relaxed. how long could it take to produce a lorry driver from craigavon

vaccine? i'm joined by maurice robinson, the 25—year—old lorry driverfrom craigavon in long could it take to produce a vaccine? i'mjoined bya northern ireland he pleaded guilty long could it take to produce a vaccine? i'm joined by a gp long could it take to produce a vaccine? i'mjoined bya gp and to all 39 charges of manslaughter. long could it take to produce a vaccine? i'm joined by a gp and an academic clinical fellow at barts in other words, he has admitted nhs health trust. good afternoon and responsibility for the deaths of all thank you forjoining us. we talk of those 39 vietnamese people who we re about the death toll and the rate of of those 39 vietnamese people who were found dead in the back of that deaths, today will be particularly sealed container in essex back in difficult, the highest so far, 820 0ctober sealed container in essex back in october last year. maurice robinson was arrested at the scene but it has in england alone. the death toll is taken until now for him to admit his incredibly tragic and each death is responsibility for those deaths. he afamily incredibly tragic and each death is a family member and a friend and has also admitted previously being they are very upsetting. i think it involved in a conspiracy to assist is concerning we're hugging curve illegal immigration. there were four quite tightly that we have seen other men appearing in court today across spain, france and italy, but and one of those was also charged really i think the death toll needs with 39 counts of manslaughter. but to be sharpening off and we have to a british romanian national who look at international partners and spoke with a thick irish accent look at international partners and look at international partners and look at what example we can follow. denied that he was responsible for we need to stringently follow social the manslaughter of those 39 distancing measures, that's the main vietnamese people and also denies strategy we have come and also being involved in a conspiracy to learning clinically what we can be assist illegal immigration and the doing as well. you say we are three other men denied conspiracy to

hugging the curve of other assist illegal immigration. countries. how do you think we are christopher kennedy previously denied the same charge. valentin carlotta wasn't asked to enter a doing compared to some of those plea today to enter the same charge. countries? we need to think about it isa how we differ from the approach plea today to enter the same charge. it is a significant development in that case. one of the defendants has other countries have. we went into lockdown relatively late and our admitted being responsible for all lockdown relatively late and our 39 of those deaths. daniel sandford, lockdown measures are less stringent than other european countries. we don't have a test and trace policy thank you. we havejust as we have seen in south korea. we 39 of those deaths. daniel sandford, thank you. we have just received the latest death toll for patients across the united kingdom and a need to think about where we differ total of 7097 patients have now died with regards to the who guidance, we in hospital after testing for differ on ppe and also with regards coronavirus in the uk. that is as of to how long we tell people to stay 5pm on tuesday. that's what the department of health has just told at home if they are symptomatic with us. that is up by 938 from 6159 the coronavirus. we are following a slightly different path. looking at day before. the latest death toll the death toll that we have, that's over the past 24 hours, recorded concerning but measures are being implemented and i am heartened working in the nhs to see how deaths, 938, the biggest daily rise in the uk so far. in the next few

quickly we have been able to move. we have increased our intensive care minutes, we will bring you a reminder that we will bring you the beds capacity. that is really encouraging. you talk about the latest downing street press intensive care capacity, we have the conference. it should be any moment now at about 5pm. the chancellor of nightingale hospital taking its the exchequer rishi sunak is going first patients now. do you get a to be leading that briefing and he is going to bejoined by stephen sense that the hospitals and intensive care units are coping? it powis, the national medical director isa of nhs england and angela mclean who intensive care units are coping? it is a question of what coping really is the deputy chief scientific means. intensive care capacity is adviser. we expect the daily downing maximised but we are increasing the street briefing anytime now but capacity, we just welcomed the first before that let's go over to patients to the nightingale hospital westminster and our political which is reassuring. the nhs is correspondent helen is there. a big poised and ready to go so we are rise in the death toll. yes, those doing what we can. this is about numbersjust rise in the death toll. yes, those numbers just coming out then, i'm social distancing, it is all about sure will be something brought about the press conference. as along with an effort to flatten the curve so some of the other issues we have seen discussed today, the the nhs isn't completely overloaded. government's attempts to increase is that working? there has been some testing, we have heard they are research from the london school of tropical medicine saying we have trying to increase the reduced interaction by about 70% bringing something called the r=0

bringing something called the r=0 bringing down the infection rates industry in the uk. there has been some criticism because our industry but we know there is a lag between is not as advanced as that of germany, one reason why perhaps we haven't done as many tests and the being exposed to the virus, showing government has set itself this symptoms and becoming unwell and challenge of getting to 100,000 requiring hospitalisation or tests a day by the end of this intensive care and for a small proportion of the cases, and i want month. earlier, the director of the covid—19 testing strategy at the to reiterate it is a small department of health cathy hall told the committee of mps that would be a proportion, unfortunately, death. so there is going to be a lag after the big challenge. she said they have a introduction of that social distancing measure and seeing the good plan and have the support of everybody doing it, so they think flattening of the curve. if we they feel confident but shouldn't underplay the challenge they have calculate it, we might see a peak in cases this week or next week and a got to overcome, so we might see, particular to the scientific experts, some more questions around the testing scheme and would not peak in cases per week after that hear more questions about the but that shows the importance of lockdown restrictions and when and maintaining social distancing as an how they might be reviewed. all the important strategy. it is the main noises from government seeming that public health strategy we have in perhaps next week, it had been the uk. our lives have promised, when boris johnson perhaps next week, it had been understandably been put on hold for promised, when borisjohnson put the restrictions in place, would be looked at and reviewed in three this. you are a gp and used to weeks' time. that would be the monday coming up. ok, helen. i'm seeing people with all kinds of illnesses. how are your patients going to leave you there because the chancellor is about to speak. coping because they will still be

sick from other causes and how are you coping with it? there's been a rishi sunak: big turnaround in terms of the way good afternoon. i am joined today by gps are delivering services. we are trying to move to telephone stephen powis, medical director of consultations, video consultations and we are still open. we are the nhs, and angela mclean, deputy chief government scientific adviser. encouraging patients to contact us if we need to. i know many people let me start by reminding everyone about our step—by—step action plan feel hesitant about attending to defeat coronavirus. at every step hospitals for other reasons. certain a&e departments anecdotally i have of this process we have followed the heard there are fewer presentations latest scientific and medical with other sorts of conditions. to a advice. 0ur latest scientific and medical advice. our goal is to slow the certain extent that is spread of the virus and protect the understandable. i don't want people ability of the nhs to cope. we have to be at home in pain with other stuff going on. your gp practice is taken ability of the nhs to cope. we have ta ken unprecedented ability of the nhs to cope. we have taken unprecedented action to open so please feel free to call and increase nhs capacity, with more chat to us. the difficulty for the beds, more staff and more equipment nhs, once this is under control, on the front line. and we have told people to stay—at—home so that we there are going to be all kinds of can protect lives and protect the other issues, illnesses, problems the nhs will have to deal with that nhs. today's daily figures show that they haven't been able to deal with

232,708 people in the uk have now 110w. been tested for coronavirus. 60700 they haven't been able to deal with now. we need to remember that going into coronavirus, the nhs was under and for people have tested positive, winter pressures. we felt under crisis anyway and that is as a and for people have tested positive, an increase of 5492 cases since result of reducing hospital beds, nhs funding hasn't grown as much as yesterday. 19,438 people have been we would like. coronavirus brings to the forefront how important public health and our health system is and admitted to hospital. and sadly, of also the recognition of key workers within it. i hope as we move out of those in hospital, 7097 have now this horrible period of time that we died, an increase of 938 fatalities start to think about where our since yesterday. 0ur died, an increase of 938 fatalities since yesterday. our thoughts are priorities are and how to support with the families and friends of the nhs so that it isn't always in those who have passed away. i'm sure crisis and we can deliver the best ca re crisis and we can deliver the best care all the time. thank you for people will also want an update on joining us. we were talking about the prime minister's health. he is receiving excellent care from the intensive care capacity. we are just nhs team at st thomas' hospital. the getting breaking news now from our latest from the hospital is that the defence correspondent that the armed forces are working on plans to build prime minister remains in intensive another five temporary hospitals to ca re prime minister remains in intensive care where his condition is improving. ican deal with the coronavirus pandemic, care where his condition is improving. i can also tell you that he has been sitting up in bed and in addition to the four where work engaging positively with the

has already been completed or is clinical team. the prime minister is not only my colleague and my boss, well under way like the nightingale but also my friend, and my thoughts hospital in east london we were are with him and his family. the talking about and the ones in news about the pm reminds us how birmingham, glasgow, manchester. it says overall there are plans to indiscriminate this disease is. build up to 17 temporary hospitals nearly everyone will know someone if required. news coming in now that who has been affected. friends, the armed forces are working on family, neighbours, colleagues. this isa plans to build another five family, neighbours, colleagues. this is a terrible virus that respects no temporary hospitals on top of the boundaries of status or geography or four that have already been announced. i'm sure we will bring vocation. but we are not facing it you more on that later on. let's alone. we are all taking part in a return to the health of the prime minister because he is in intensive collective national effort to protect the vulnerable and each ca re minister because he is in intensive care at st thomas's hospital in other, to secure our public services and to save lives. this endeavour is those details not coming out of st thomas's hospital but we wouldn't underpinned by an important, simple really expect that. it is very unusualfor a doctor to idea. that we depend on each other. really expect that. it is very unusual for a doctor to give a running commentary on any patient, when you need it, when you fall on let alone the prime minister. those ha rd when you need it, when you fall on hard times, we will all, as one

updates coming from downing street. society, be there for you. to take the last one we had was just before ca re of society, be there for you. to take care of you until you are once again 1pm this afternoon, what it said is ready to take care of yourself and that the prime minister is others. this idea has been central responding to treatment in the to all of our efforts to support hospital behind me. combined with the information we got last night at people and businesses during this crisis. we promise to do whatever it 7pm from downing street, in which we we re 7pm from downing street, in which we were told he isn't on a respirator ta kes, crisis. we promise to do whatever it takes, and! but he is getting standard oxygen crisis. we promise to do whatever it takes, and i am striving everyday to keep that promise. but when i say we treatment. let me just decode that for you. that means he is being all depend on each other, i don't given oxygen either via a nasal tube just mean the relationship between 01’ given oxygen either via a nasal tube ora given oxygen either via a nasal tube or a mask, but that oxygen isn't individuals, businesses and the being pumped into his lungs under state. one of our greatest strengths pressure. it is a significantly less asa state. one of our greatest strengths as a country is our civil society. invasive treatment than putting him ona invasive treatment than putting him the local charities who provide so on a respirator. why is that an much compassion, care and community important detail? it is important because one of the things that we to the most vulnerable in our country. you have not been know about this unpredictable virus is that if you are very severely forgotten. british people, ill, it is highly likely you will businesses and foundations are already doing their part to support need respiration at some point. he our charity sector. and today we in

clearly hasn't reached that. another detail they have released for three government will do our part, as we days running is that he is in good build on our plan for the economy with a plan to support our social spirits. that's interesting because it means he can communicate that to fabric. there are nearly 170,000 the nurses and doctors around him. charities in this country, and the with all of these things around this truth is we will not be able to match every pound of funding they particular story, it all comes with would have received this year. a caveat. it is a very unpredictable virus. we know that for certain charities can already use many of our existing schemes to support groups of people, for example, the people and protect their staff. all elderly and those with underlying health conditions like a cardiac charities are eligible for the job problem or diabetes, their outcomes retention scheme and in line with may be worse than those people who medical advice and just like any don't but we are also seeing over other employer the right answer for the past few weeks younger and many charities will be to furlough their employees. but some charities younger people experiencing really severe outcomes and in some cases, u nfortu nately, are on the front line of fighting severe outcomes and in some cases, unfortunately, away. we also don't the coronavirus, and others provide know how long it could take him, as critical services and support to you say he is in intensive care, how vulnerable people and communities. for them, shutting up shop at this long it could take him to recover moment would be to contravene their from this. that's a good question. very purpose, their entire reason to

exist. those charities have never 0ne from this. that's a good question. one that was being discussed across been more needed than they are now, the media this morning as he enters and they have never faced such a day three. let me just take you back sudden fall in their funding. so a bit. the timeline of this is that today i'm announcing £750 million of funding for the charity sector. £370 the prime minister entered hospital million of that funding will support on sunday but he'd been ill for ten small, local charities working with days previously. the reason he came vulnerable people. we all know who to st thomas' was he had this they are, those small charities in persistent temperature that wasn't our villages and market towns, in going down and on the recommendation pockets of our cities, the unsung of his doctor he was told to check heroes looking after the vulnerable and holding together our social in here. on monday he was put in fabric. in england, this support will be provided through organisations like the national intensive care, he is stable on lottery communities fund and we will tuesday and now we are into allocate £16 million of this funding wednesday. this has been a 13 day through the barnett formula to illness for him. how long will it scotland, wales and northern ireland. the uk government will also ta ke illness for him. how long will it take for him to recover fully? how provide £360 million directly to charities providing essential

long is a piece of string? what we services and supporting vulnerable people as we battle the coronavirus. do seem to know is those patients up people as we battle the coronavirus. up to £200 million of those grants that have been in respirators in will support hospices with the rest intensive care, once they come out going to organisations like st of that, you can take up to eight john's ambulance and the citizens advice bureau, as well as charities weeks for them to be back on their supporting vulnerable children, victims of domestic abuse, or feet operating in a more normal way. disabled people. and last night, the bbc announced their big night in, a what clinicians have been saying charity appeal on april 23. today i this morning is that because there are so many variable factors when it can confirm that the government will match pound for pound whatever the comes to patients, it is impossible to say how the prime minister is public decides to donate, starting doing. we have very little detail with at least £20 million to the national emergencies trust appeal. about his medical condition, and quite clearly downing street is to make short weeks ago i spoke of deciding what the public should know the need for kindness, decency and and feel that these kind of very the need for kindness, decency and cautiously optimistic details with the sort of neighbourliness that is at the heart of these charitable and emphasis on cautious, are enough for 110w. community efforts. —— two short emphasis on cautious, are enough for now. having said that, at 5pm we will get the daily press conference.

weeks ago. the connections between it is possible dominic raab who is us in recent weeks have become more apparent. for most of us, we spend deputising will give us a bit more our lives oblivious to these connections and bonds and how our of the detail. sangita myska, thank behaviour is, however small can have you. 0fficial of the detail. sangita myska, thank a dramatic effect on others. but you. official data suggests that testing per head of population in these bonds are not invisible for our local charities. for the england has been slower than scotland, wales and northern ireland. as england has by far the volunteer keeping victims of domestic violence safe, for the largest population it is dragging outreach worker helping a rough the overall uk numbers down. 0ur sleeper find a bed, outreach worker helping a rough sleeperfind a bed, orfor the reality check correspondent chris support worker manning the phones to morris is here with me now. what help stave off the heart—wrenching have you found in the data? we put loneliness so many of our elderly together the data from the four nations and we know testing is one relatives and friends will be experiencing right now. these of the routes out of this. we have connections might be hard to see, but they are there and they are seen we have an average per 100,000 strengthened by our compassion for people in the uk, 321 people have others. charities embody this like been tested. the graph speaks for no other organisation. and there itself. in wales, scotland and northern ireland, the number well over 100. in england lesson is that the simplest acts northern ireland, the number well over100. in england it northern ireland, the number well over 100. in england it is still 299. --1/400. have the potential to change lives. over 100. in england it is still 299. ——1/400. england has the largest population so it is dragging at this time, when many are hurting the other countries down. even

though england has 84% of the whole and tired and can find, we need the population of the uk, it is only ge ntle ness and tired and can find, we need the gentleness of charities in our lives. it gives us hope, it makes us doing 78% of the testing even though 90% of the deaths have been in stronger, and it reminds us we depend on each other. thank you. england. it is something that needs to be speeded up and the government is determined to do that as is if we could now take some questions, public health england. it has been lagging in england. we have spoken i believe. angela, were you going to to scientists who say the system is too rigid, they could have been ways present your slides first?“ i believe. angela, were you going to present your slides first? if i may. perfect. i want to start with this too rigid, they could have been ways to loosen it earlier, like countries data, which is a record of how much like germany who did more testing more aggressively much earlier in we have acted together to reduce how the pandemic. what is public health much we contact each other. what is england saying? we got a statement shown here is footfall at 17 from duncan selby who said we moved stations across the country, heaven and earth to develop an counting how many people pass accurate test and accuracy is through those stations at different times through the month of march. important. no point rolling out tests in a panic if they are not what you see is that at the end of march footfall was down 94% compared accurate. he says we are on track to the first week of march. in the

and have delivered 10,000 tests a day and we are on track as part of next slide you can see that it has the overall government target of 25,000 tests per day by the end of worked in the sense that this account of new worked in the sense that this account of new cases worked in the sense that this account of new cases in the uk day april in public health laboratories. by day over the last few weeks is that doesn't really explain what infa nt that doesn't really explain what infant hasn't done that as quickly not accelerating out of control. as the other home nations. you wonder how matt hancock who says his yesterday there were 5492 new cases. the spread of this virus is not accelerating, and that is good news. target is 100,000 per day by the end of the month, how will they achieve 0n the next slide, what is recorded that? we will see a ramping up in here as people in hospital beds with covid—19. the highest of those lines the next couple of weeks. you spoke is london, and the one just below in about this earlier, private labs and the grey colour is in the midlands. university labs coming on stream. this is a slower responding record the chief exec of astrazeneca was on of new infections because of course the today programme and together once people are in hospital, some of with gsk and university of cambridge them will have to stay there for are setting up a new lab in many days, some of them for some

weeks. but again what we see is the cambridge by the middle of april. by rate at which this is rising is early may they hope to do 30,000 definitely getting slower and it looks like we are beginning to get tests per day can after the towards a flat curve, which is what artificial deadline of the end of we have all wanted. 0ur overallaim april, but the point is the number has always been to make sure will increase significantly. it everyone can have access to critical doesn't tell us why we haven't done ca re everyone can have access to critical care if they need it. on the next this quickly and we have to learn lessons and ask why a country like slide we can see covid—19 patients in critical care. if we can go back germany has tested so much more efficiently and effectively than us early on? the tests are coming but one slide, please. no? 0k. it would have been nice if it could in critical care. if we can go back have been in place earlier. we are one slide, please. no? ok. this one, thank you. and there we see expecting the press conference at encouraging news. at least in some 5pm. rishi sunak will lead the press conference joined by stephen parts of the country this really has 5pm. rishi sunak will lead the press conferencejoined by stephen powers, the national medical director of nhs started to flatten. across the england and angela maclean, the country in the last 24 hours this deputy chief scientific adviser. we has increased byjust 4%. again, willjoin them at about 5pm. ambulance staff across england are putting their lives at risk because thatis has increased byjust 4%. again, that is good news because this is they don't have enough ppe according our most limiting resource at the to the gmb union. aliens of aprons,

moment. finally, i have data on the masks and gloves have been sent to nhs staff according to the sad statistic of people who have government but paramedics still say they don't have enough. the open we died from covid—19. this is an are asked to wear is nothing more international comparison across different countries showing how that number accumulates in different than a disposable flimsy apron. ppe countries. the uk is the dark blue is the barrier against the line somewhere in the middle. this coronavirus. i will then put on the data has long reporting lags and sleeve protectors provided. even after the number of people in critical care stabilises or maybe even begins to fall, this number will rise because sometimes deaths the apron that we are asked to wear is nothing more are reported many, many days, even a than a disposable flimsy apron. personal protective equipment is the barrier week or so after someone has sadly against the coronavirus. and then we've got to put died. so we expect this number to on the sleeve protection that is provided, again, only goes so far up. keep rising even after the curve has paul turner is a union rep who has returned to paramedic flattened. thank you, chancellor. duties in the north—west. last week, public health england released new guidance advising any stephen powis. a word on charities. clinician working within two metres of a patient with suspected covid—19 to wear an apron, gloves, surgical mask and eye protection. but paul says there still isn't in the nhs we work with charities in enough kit, leaving staff concerned for their own safety. i am seeing some of the strongest characters in the ambulance service the sector. it is important to

at the moment at breaking point. recognise the support they are and i mean some of the strongest characters. these people have done 20, 30 years in the service. giving everyone to help them through i think the main concern for them the time when we are asking people is they are scared of the ppe. the ppe, as you have seen to stay—at—home and take the in the video i sent you, does not protect us or our uniform. measures that we have indicated. i many ambulance staff didn't want to go on camera but wrote have the real privilege at nhs about feeling scared and unprotected, saying theyjoined the service to save lives, not england of leading the lose theirs and risk their families. and it's notjust the lack cardiovascular, heart attacks and strokes strategy. to charities i of equipment that putting a strain on the service. according to figures released work closely with, the british heart by the gmb union in london, foundation and stroke association, i one in five staff are currently off know they would want me to say today with covid related sickness. more than half, 679, and remind everyone that the nhs has are front line workers and over 100 are call handlers. the pressure and the demand worked night and day to surge on the service has only increased, with sickness levels and issues, capacity to manage coronavirus, but having to self—isolate, it is also there for you if you have and becoming ill themselves, it'sjust added more pressure. it's going to be a huge issue with mental health after this with the stress and the strain symptoms of a stroke or heart that they have been put under. a mental health hotline condition. any emergency condition, for nhs staff to call a sick child, a pregnant mother who or text has launched today. and the department of health says hundreds of millions of personal protective items have been delivered is worried about the movements of around the country. but it is still a race against time her baby, you should seek emergency to keep those at the forefront services just as you always have of the outbreak safe from the enemy they cannot see. done. they are there for you and

lauren moss, bbc news. we can now talk more about where the although we are focusing on uk is on the curve and when we are coronavirus, it is important we also likely to see an end or relaxation continue to focus on other emergency of the lockdown. i'm joined by professor peter 0penshaw, an immunologist and respiratory physician at imperial college london. thank you forjoining us. in conditions. thank you, stephen. we can take some questions, first up, terms of the lockdown, monday is laura kuenssberg, bbc. thank you, three weeks but i don't think anyone is expecting it to be lifted any chancellor. you keep saying whatever time soon. no, absolutely. it is it takes to help people through this time with support from the economy, much too early to be able to judge but do you accept that under the the effect. there are some early, lockdown there is a trade—off tentative and hopeful signs, but between protecting people's health and protecting their jobs?|j it'll take quite a while to be able to see the effects the lockdown, between protecting people's health and protecting theirjobs? i think we have been clear, our priority is particularly on the more delayed benefits such as itu admission or to protect people's lives, health and well—being. that's our deaths. that will take a bit longer. overriding priority. but alongside that, in a coordinated, coherent and it's much too early to judge. what consistent fashion we have also put is the hopeful science that you in place unprecedented and refer to ? is the hopeful science that you significant measures to protect refer to? i think in terms of the number of reported illnesses which people's jobs, incomes and livelihoods and indeed the businesses that employ them. i think are covid—19 compatible that are that's the right approach and it means we can mitigate as much of the coming through gps, may be the

number of searches, we are economic impact as possible and ensure that as soon as we can get monitoring google searches that are going on. there is little early hope through this that we can bounce back as quickly as possible. is there in the number of early admission is not accelerating at the rate they would do if they hadn't done without anything you wanted to follow up on the lockdown. it's important to bear or with anyone else? do you accept, in mind we were not expecting an absolutely immediate effect and though, that some people are falling there are other measures that could be introduced if this is not going through the cracks? the treasury select committee said this afternoon to drive down numbers. but it's too early to be thinking about that at you need to take urgent action for this stage. we need to wait a few those not covered by your extensive more weeks to see the benefits. so scheme. should the public be do you think it's at least another prepared for a serious downturn or two or three weeks, can you even put recession? i have been clear and honest that this will have a a time on it? it is so hard to significant impact on the economy. that is not uncommon with every speculate. we can look at the other major country grappling with epidemic curves that has been seen this. we will all see a significant in some other countries. looking at impact on the economy and i have also been honest that despite what the shape of the curve you could imagine it will be another two or our unprecedented measures in scale and scope, i can't stand here and three weeks, but that is total say i can save everything a job, speculation. 0bviously three weeks, but that is total speculation. obviously we are not protect every single business or every single charity, the focus of

italy and we just have to wait and the announcement today. that is see for the moment. to the bottom simply not possible, but we can put line is, you have to get the data, in place but i think is an enormous amount of support in a targeted the evidence, scientific evidence, fashion as best as possible to help and there is a lag between people as many people as possible get falling ill and those who need through this so we can emerge on the hospital treatment, and then if other side of it stronger, united people spend time in icu. yes, this and able to bounce back as quickly disease goes in several phases which are quite characteristic and as possible. we can next go to tom clarke from itv. variable. there is the early viral phase when the infection is taking hold and presents with a cough and fever and so on. and then often my question relates to testing, things may seem to be steady or yesterday's briefing from the chief improving and then sometimes you enter the second, more immunological medical officer made the honest admission that germany's lower death toll in their pandemic is due to phase later in the second week and their ability to test more people more quickly. given their death toll that's the time when the lungs can is three times lower than ours, is sometimes fail and you might need supplementary oxygen or even a it now time for the government to ventilator. that's the second phase come out and admit that thousands of which is quite delayed. it must be people have died and thousands more extraordinary for you as a scientist people have died and thousands more people will die in this country as a to be seeing this unfold. it is also result of our failure to test more people more rapidly? that is not

new, we didn't know about this virus until three months ago. what for you have surprised you the most about it? as a scientist, there is a what the chief medical officer said, certain fascination in watching he said it was part of a range of these events unfold. i was on factors in germany and it is difficult at this stage to say what advisory committees and working on range of factors has contributed to this back in the times of the flu what. i think the chief medical pandemic and the avian flu threat officer was also making clear that it's important that all countries learn from each other and i have no and sars and mers and each one is doubt other countries will want to learn from our experience and some of the things that we have done in su btly and sars and mers and each one is subtly different. with this one, people were saying it's like a bad flu, but it is certainly not. it is the united kingdom. for instance, the united kingdom. for instance, the work on modelling and predicting much worse than influenza, with what the epidemic might do. i think hospitality and mortality rates the point he was making yesterday about ten times higher. the risk was that everybody should be learning from each other. and indeed factors a re about ten times higher. the risk factors are different. we were surprised to see the risk factors thatis learning from each other. and indeed that is what we are doing. angela that we know well for influenza are might have more to say on that. i not necessarily risk factors here. would have thought the point would be that the rate of deaths appears people who have had previous heart disease or high blood pressure or much lower if you can count many, diabetes are most at risk and that many more of the cases, that is

isa diabetes are most at risk and that is a little bit different. we are still trying to really understand certainly one of the things you see, if you see different fatality rates that but i think slowly the science is unfolding and day by day we know in different countries that could a little bit more. that's an because you are counting many more of the people who should be on the important reason to try to delay the bottom of that fraction. in terms of outbreak as much as we possibly can modelling, that is something we are because we are learning so much more about this disease and potentially really very happy in this country to offer to other countries and hope thatis offer to other countries and hope that is one of the things we can what we can do to treat it. there contribute to the international are what we can do to treat it. there a re lots of what we can do to treat it. there are lots of great trials now under effort. thank you. tom, i hope way and which we are waiting to see the results of and those will really help to treat people at different that... i sat through the select stages of the disease, whether it is the viral stage or later.|j committee hearing on which you were a witness. we heard from the people stages of the disease, whether it is the viral stage or later. i know in charge of testing in south korea what has confounded so many people is that many people have mild and hong kong who made it abundantly symptoms, and even young people clear testing has reduced the numbers of cases of coronavirus in without any other underlying health those countries. doctor chris whitty symptoms seem to be attacked by this virus so aggressively. yes, there is said yesterday it was germany's ability to test that was part of some predictability about it. their lowered death rates and he did not dispute that it is about advancing age and other risk testing. so can you tell me whether our inability to test will lead to

factors, being male seems to exacerbate it. and then there are greater mortality here ? our inability to test will lead to greater mortality here? and can i follow up, how dependent is the uk things like heart disease and ona follow up, how dependent is the uk diabetes and high blood pressure on a testing regime for us to be which is somehow all part of the able to lift lockdown restrictions? riddle that's trying to be solved. and are we on course to have sufficient levels of testing in the community to allow us to do that in but i think it is starting to fit anything like the next three or four together and we are starting to be weeks? i think we all agree that able to imagine new treatments which testing is important, that is not are based on deep knowledge of the theissue testing is important, that is not the issue at all. the point i was science. it's extraordinary to see making is that testing is one part the way the science is advancing almost by the hour. i know one thing ofa making is that testing is one part of a set of different things that you have found difficult, i have will need to be considered in any been reading your social media and country's strategy. that is the case comments on twitter, is the language here. it is the case in germany. and people are using around the illness, particularly since the prime i have spoken to the chief medical minister has been admitted to officer today and i know the point intensive care, but it is like going he was making yesterday was indeed to walk on the fight and battle the it is part of the overall strategy. disease, which we can't do. we are i think it is almost certainly too human, and you are ill and that's all you can do. your body has to early in all countries' experience ta ke all you can do. your body has to take over to try to defeat it. i am to know exactly which components of strategies have been the most effective, or have been the most using the language again! but it's important. it is highly likely it is this battle language that people

the combination of these things object to. yes, and also with the rather than one individual part of immune system, it's easy to use the approach. andy bell from channel battle analogies, armies and foot soldiers and snipers and the rest of five. thank you, i want to follow up it. maybe that's a good way partly on tom's question about the sometimes to explain what we think lockdown but in a different context, is going on, but i think going back which is that the first minister of wales said today as far as he's to the question about using the concerned the lockdown will continue terminology, if someone is strong beyond next week in wales. can you they will fight the disease, or if level with us now and just accept you have the right mental attitude that the lockdown is going to then you will survive, i have found continue across the uk through next that to be so unhelpful as a week? and from a scientific and clinician when i have been there and medical point of view, is it patients have been advised by possible or even desirable that relatives, perhaps, that they are different parts of the country could strong, they will fight it. because come out of lockdown at different thenif strong, they will fight it. because then if things take a turn for the speeds? let me address that before worse they somehow feel they have let themselves down and their relatives down because they haven't handing over, andy. there will be a fought hard enough. itjust isn't like that. it is an unhelpful thing cobra meeting yesterday chaired by the first secretary of state involving the devolved to both be very sick and then also administrations. we will talk about the approach to the review. we feel guilty that you have not been able to fight it. so i avoid those committed that there would be a

types of terms when discussing the review around three weeks. that disease with patients. one more review around three weeks. that review will be based on the evidence question and i am sure you have seen and data provided by sage, which some of the pictures coming out of will only be available next week. i china and wuhan where this originated, where people are think rather than speculate about suddenly getting freedom again after the future, i think we should focus months. it's a very sudden liftoff on the here and now and the present, restrictions, isn't it? yes. ithink and that the message is unequivocal. our priority right now is to stop we are all waiting to see if they get more cases and if they do, they the spread of this virus, to get the will have to lock down again. i other side of the peak and the best way to do that is for people to would also say that it is perfectly follow the advice, which is to stay possible now, with lots of testing at home, protect lives and protect and lots of contact tracing and the nhs. in terms of messaging, i using sophisticated methods of would want to be absolutely unequivocal about that, that is tracking peoples mobile phones and a where we are now, that's the advice we should be following, that's what large squad of people going to find we should be following, that's what we should be following, that's what we should all be doing to get all the contacts and them, it is through this as quick as possible. i possible with smaller numbers to don't know if you wanted to add actually have a very effective contact tracing and testing and anything, angela. we have always said we would need to be able to see what impact the whole suite of isolation policy which is more intervention is brought into place pinpoint and much more specific. on the 23rd of march are having 0nce pinpoint and much more specific. once you have got a lot of cases out before we can make any evidence there, as we have, it becomes almost based decision on what to do next.

impossible to control the disease using that policy of aggressive this week is a really important week testing and very rapid contact and we are all watching what tracing. so different types of happens. i guess from a purely scientific point of view, more data approach work with different stages ofan approach work with different stages of an outbreak. professor openshaw, is better for us. but thank you for speaking to us. scientific point of view, more data is betterfor us. but i completely agree with the chancellor about what fascinating to hear your thoughts. really matters is that people stay home, protect lives and save the nhs, orwas it passengers on some london bus routes home, protect lives and save the nhs, or was it the other way around? will only be able to board through the middle doors, does that answer your question?” as part of efforts to protect drivers from infection. nine bus drivers have just like to come back to the idea died in the capital after contracting coronavirus. of whether different parts of the 0ur transport correspondent tom burridge reports. country could theoretically emerge at different times from lockdown. for the people keeping vital transport links open, the risk of contracting coronavirus whether that is first of all is very real. politically possible. and secondly, this is him with his son makaya.. whether that is in any way scientifically or medically meks was 36 — a bus desirable. what i would say before handing over to angela on the driver for seven years. medical, again, i don't want to he was an absolute charming boy. start speculating about the future. i think that's not helpful at this he was treated in hospital for covid—19 and discharged. juncture. the thing now is to focus 0nce home, he fell very ill.

i went and knelt in front of him, held his face with both of my hands and i said, "meks, look at me, look at me, talk to me." and then he said to me... unequivocally on the advice. we are where we are in this process and the advice is clear, people should follow the advice. the best thing "mum, i'm not going to make it." anyone can do wherever they live in "i'm not going to make it." this country at the moment.” anyone can do wherever they live in this country at the moment. i don't wa nt this country at the moment. i don't want to get into hypotheticals about what might be better one way or another. the advice is for easter meks was one of 14 public transport workers in london who have died weekend to stay home, protect the nhs and save lives. i will certainly from covid—19 in recent days. most of them were bus drivers. be having my easter at home. thank it is extremely tough, knowing you, and e. gary gibbon from channel that his life was put at risk. 4. thank you. chancellor, can i ask, transport for london says passengers should now only board through the middle door, but this morning, not everyone we have had unemployment figures had got the message. from one european country so far we're using antiviral disinfectant. post cove rt from one european country so far post covert crisis, unemployment well post covert crisis, unemployment we ll over we've also made sure there is post covert crisis, unemployment well over 10%. from the data you have looked at in the treasury, can a perspex barrier between the driver and the passengers with a protective you hand on heart say we will not film to avoid droplets see something like that here? —— coming from people's mouths onto the driver. we've also made sure no passenger covid. i will be absolutely honest,

can sit near a driver. this will have a significant impact on our economy, and not in an boarding only via the middle door a bstra ct might make it harder for passengers on our economy, and not in an abstract way, it will affect people's jobs and livelihoods, to keep their distance from each that's why we have taken the actions other, so for now, we have in order to help mitigate it is just being trialled. some of that. i believe, for elsewhere in the uk, example, the job retention some of that. i believe, for example, thejob retention scheme, the furlough scheme we have put in screens to protect drivers and empty seats at the front should now place, which we have never had anything like in this country. when be the norm. a bus driver in bristol also died i stood here to announce it, said the government was stepping in to from covid—19 last month. help pay people's wages so they in liverpool, the mayor wants more aren't laid off, so they don't end clarity on what measures should be up aren't laid off, so they don't end up being unemployed, so they remain taken to protect drivers. attached to their country with a very significant safety net behind at the moment it seems to be a bit them. that helps the company, it wishy—washy and we're helps the person and helps their getting confused messages, notjust on this issue but on a whole host of different family finances. i think that issues, from central government. combined with all the other measures the uk's bus industry said we have taken will significantly a thorough assessment of the risks help mitigate some of the impact. i facing drivers would be carried out, and further action would be think that's what other commentators ta ken, where necessary. tom burridge, bbc news. have said as well. that if we weren't doing all the things we are doing and if we were not putting in place these unprecedented measures it would certainly be worse. i believe we are doing the right things. i can't say there will not be hardship ahead because there is

which is why i say going for this is some breaking news from america, we one society, united, understanding have been informed that us senator everybody has a role to play, where the government, business, charities, your next—door neighbour, that's the bernie sanders is telling his staff best approach to this. but i'm confident we will get through it. that he has suspended his campaign for the 2020 democratic presidential cani nomination. that was in a conference confident we will get through it. can i ask, is some of the data from surveys already coming in call to star. he intends to address outstripping your expectations? you supporters later this afternoon in a mentioned the furlough scheme. there live stream. that's the news we are is some suggestion there could be hearing right now, he has suspended people applying for that, businesses his campaign and we will bring you applying for that way in excess may more on that later. be of treasury expectations. did you ever expect you could be forking out 40 billion over three months, which could be the number, couldn't it? to more than 9 million workers are expected to be clarify on that, we haven't put out furloughed under the government's job retention schemeintroduced a specific projection or estimate of to help businesses survive the pandemic. the take—up of the scheme and i the think tank, the resolution foundation, says the scheme think there was some reporting that is likely to cost £30 we might have and this might be in to £40 billion over three months. 0ur economics correspondent excess of this, but we haven't done that, for the simple reason this is andy verity has more details. an unprecedented situation so of thejob retention scheme course we have a range of scenarios is meant to help firms hit by the shutdown stay in business that might come our way but there is and still pay staff. no precise central estimate of what companies like those who are working on this construction site the scheme might do. what i would near battersea power station

in south london will keep staff on even if they're not working, say is you are right, there is other data we can look at and i think putting them on furlough, meaning leave of absence, others and myself have talked about and the government has promised to reimburse 80% of their wages. universal credit claims which have come down from where they were ten the furlough scheme has been days ago, which is comforting, but brilliant because what it's enabled they are still very elevated us to do is keep the capacity relative to what normal levels might within our business, and capability, so that when we come through this, be, sometimes four or five times we can then redeploy our people higher. that is obviously something immediately so we can we look at and that's why we have go back to work. 0livia webb has been not only strengthen the safety net furloughed in her job and put extra money to the tune of with a recruitment agency, but few employers are hiring right £7 billion plus into the welfare now, and she's not sure system for those accessing universal if there will be a role credit, we have also provided more for her when the shutdown lifts. while i am grateful to have not been made redundant, funding to dwp, for example, to help it does feel like i am just waiting them process those claims and ensure for the inevitable, because when these three people get the support as quickly as months‘ grants are up, what is going to happen then? they need. when it comes to the job are businesses able to pay salaries again? are they going to bounce back? retention scheme, people who are put probably not. on that scheme at whatever scale, to so, it does feel like a bit of a waiting game right now. me that is the scheme working. the the cost of paying four fifths idea was we did that so that people of the wages of millions of private we re idea was we did that so that people were not laid off, not unemployed, sector employees whose companies have been shutdown is so large, they had a good income to get them you can forget everything you've through this and they remain heard in the last ten years attached to their company and about getting government employer. if it ends up being spending under control or cutting the national debt. significantly used, i will view that it's going to jump. asa

significantly used, i will view that as a success if it means we get it is manageable, as long through this and can bounce back as the shutdown only lasts for three months. quickly and provide security to those people and their families. but if it continues through the summer, the cost thank you. i think next, pippa could soon start to spiral crerar at the daily mirror. we all out of control. know the focus now is currently on the latest figures released today by the british chambers of commerce find 37% of small— and medium—sized companies are furloughing at least three—quarters of their staff, and a fifth will furlough their entire workforce. following the advice, rightly. but if that pattern is repeated across the economy, the resolution foundation estimates i've spoken to head teachers and at least a third of all private sector workers will be paid through the scheme, parents and mps who are very keen to at a cost to government of £30 billion to £40 billion. reopen schools as soon as the businesses leaders say scientific advice suggests that it is safe to do so. could i ask firms need money fast. if they don't receive some of the funding by the end professor angela mclean, weather, of this month, many of them despite the focus on the advice now, are going to have to whether she could give us any take drastic steps. i'm afraid that we would see indication of whether schools might an increase in the rate of business reopen before the summer holidays, failures and we'd see a lot of otherwise viable which after all, our three months companies going to the wall. away. and the chancellor, how but there are holes in this giant safety net. significant a factor in our schools saj devshi changed jobs just in your discussions about getting after the cut—off date the economy back on its feet once we at the end of february,

so his new employer can't help him. are through the other side of this? this arbitrary date that the chancellor has put in 20 days before the lockdown even occurred, we don't qualify i'm happy to answer that by saying forfurlough pay and, effectively, there is very intensive work going we don't qualify for any on to think about all sorts of state support, either. different things that we might do in the next stage. it would be there's tens of thousands of people com pletely the next stage. it would be completely premature for me to give in this position like myself. a yes or no answer to that question whatever the scheme's flaws, though, because so much depends on this companies agree that without it, this economic emergency would be even worse. andy verity, bbc news. question of how well have the measures put in on march 23 worked? and we can't know that this week many of us have been until we see a longer run of showing our thanks to health workers across the country infections that have happened since during this pandemic. but the roles were reversed when one that time. but please be assured patient left hospital — that time. but please be assured health workers applauded hylton murray—phillipson that people are working incredibly when he was discharged, ha rd to that people are working incredibly hard to explore those sorts of after nearly two weeks being treated questions. tipper, i probably can't for covid—19. phil mackie explains why. add much to what angela said. in all these instances we are driven and are basing our decisions on the the heroes of the pandemic, science and what is best for cheering one of their successes. controlling the spread of this virus it's five days since hylton murray—philipson came home, and he's loving every minute of it. and getting that our number down, that has been our approach all along i'm feeling really great, i'm appreciating every little thing andi that has been our approach all along and i pay tribute to those who are

as if it's the first time that it's helping keep our schools open for ever happened to me in my life. the children of key workers. that is so, the twittering of birds, the daffodils you may see valuable and the work they are doing behind me, the blue sky. when i was in hospital, is, i believe, well supported by the i was fantasising about department for education. they are toast and marmalade. all those little things owed thanks for doing that because it is vital at this time. can i come which you take for granted normally, i'm never going to take for granted ever again. at his lowest ebb, back? i can understand the data and he was on a ventilator being fed through a tube, science suggests it is too soon to then little by little, he started to get better. say. but stephen powis was talking days ago about green shoots and the to actually sit up in a chair for three hours and not be flat beginning signs of the curve flattening. was that premature? no, on my back, basically, begging for mercy, felt fantastic. and so, it was step—by—step i don't think so, because what i from there, and then eventually, said last week were the green shoots the liquid food drip goes and then we re said last week were the green shoots were occurring in some of the only you can then have, my goodness, things we were seeing such is the nhs leek and potato soup! reduction in transport, the reduction in transport, the reduction in transport, the reduction in football that we describe in these press conferences, i could live on it for the rest of my life, it was magic. which recognises the british public he paid tribute to the doctors and nurses is complying with instructions, and at the leicester royal infirmary. as we have said, the messages we and then the applause need to continue complying with started rippling out, those instructions on social and the entire corridor was lined distancing. those green shoots over with all these really

happy, cheerfulfaces, many of whom i felt incredibly close time translate into benefit in a to after all the time reduction in the number of that i'd spent there. infections, a reduction in the numberof he lost 15% of his body weight infections, a reduction in the number of hospitalisations, and then and has had to learn to walk again. sadly, finally, into a reduction in the numberof his great grandfather played sadly, finally, into a reduction in the number of deaths. and i think as cricket for england, which inspired this analogy. you have heard from angela at the start of this press conference, we every little thing are starting to see the first signs to me now is special. i'm just gobsmacked, really, to be given a second chance, ofa and i do feel like a cricketer, and i've been at the crease are starting to see the first signs of a plateauing infections and hospitalisations and if we have not and the umpire is putting his finger taken up, and i'm walking, hospitalisations and if we have not ta ken those hospitalisations and if we have not taken those measures and people had not complied with them, we would not but no, there has been a secret be seeing that, we would see an exponential curve and a set of camera somewhere that says, no, graphs that were steeply rising. we we need a little bit more time at the crease for hylton. are beginning to see the benefits, i it just feels fantastic to be here. believe, but the really critical phil mackie, bbc news, thing is that we have to continue following instructions, we have to continue following social leicestershire. distancing, because if we don't virus will start to spread again and if it starts to spread again, then ina week if it starts to spread again, then in a week or two's time we will be seeing a set of figures which are not going in the direction that we we will bring you the latest downing wa nt not going in the direction that we want to see them. we will see

street press conference shortly with increased pressure on the nhs, we chancellor rishi sunak leading the will see increased numbers of deaths. so this isn't the time to briefing, joined by stephen powers, become complacent. it is not the and angela mclean, the deputy chief time to think the job has been done. scientific adviser. that will be at this is the time to continue, around 5p this afternoon. everybody continuing, whether you are me, a member of the public, frankly, whether you are a football team, to continue to keep with social distancing and ensure that the hard work and the hardship that everybody is no doubt encountering leads to those benefits. that's a simple message today and you have heard it time and time again and there are no apologies for giving it. thank you, pippa crerar. next to the express... back to yourjob retention scheme, the head of revenue and customs today warned the scheme is open to fraud and abuse. have you had any evidence that is happening and what you urge asi as i have said before in these employees to blow the whistle on updates they don't capture all firms that might be abusing this

covid—19 deaths. national records of scheme? thank you. what i would say scotla nd covid—19 deaths. national records of scotland are therefore also now publishing on a weekly basis in a is that we are obviously designing schemes at pace which haven't been further report. the first of these done before. part of the reason we has been published around about half an hour ago. this new report have made some of the decisions we have made some of the decisions we have made some of the decisions we have made in the design, whether ca ptu res all an hour ago. this new report captures all deaths registered 00:52:16,295 --> 2147483051:36:53,566 within a seven day period. that 2147483051:36:53,566 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 includes it's the job retention scheme or the self—employed, they are deliberately to counterfraud. self—employed, they are deliberately to counter fraud. we want to make them as simple as possible and as accessible to as many people as possible whilst protecting the taxpayer because this is all of our money that has to be paid back at some point so we want to make sure it is targeted on those who need it and that has influenced some of the design choices we have made meaning some people might fall between the cracks. people are suggesting we do ita cracks. people are suggesting we do it a certain way or include other people. the reason we haven't done thatis people. the reason we haven't done that is to protect against exactly that is to protect against exactly that risk of fraud or spurious claims we can't verify only with a cumbersome manual process that will delay the implementation of the scheme which is not the right thing. iam scheme which is not the right thing. i am confident the decisions we have made will minimise the risk of

fraud. obviously the team are hard at work at the moment getting schemes up and running and we will have as robust verification and auditing processes as possible to make sure there isn't fraud and we can tackle it. that's why we have made some of the choices we have made some of the choices we have made and hopefully people will understand that and hopefully will be reasonable out that when i have explained, this is why you have to have been employed on this particular day. because if you weren't there is the risk you could create a brand—new employment for someone we have never heard of before and suddenly start getting money from the taxpayer for a not genuine case. that's one of the reasons we picked a cut—off date for february 28 for the scheme. a big pa rt february 28 for the scheme. a big part of that was to prevent fraud. hopefully that is clear. jim and hmrc and the team are doing a fantastic job getting these hmrc and the team are doing a fantasticjob getting these things up fantasticjob getting these things up and running. he talked a bit about timing and we are on track to deliver on the timelines i outlined earlier, which is pleasing because this is a huge challenge for them

and they are doing a greatjob. does that answer what you wanted? thank you. james from the daily mail online. churchill had a personal doctor and president trump has a medical team but the prime minister was left with persistent symptoms for more than a week and only admitted to hospital after a video call with a gp. there doesn't seem to have been a great deal of social distancing going on in downing street. haven't we failed to protect our key decision—makers and what needs to change in the future, do we needs to change in the future, do we need more of a us style system with more protection? i will defer to steve in a second but i think the prime minister has received excellent ca re prime minister has received excellent care and advice every step of the process. at the end of the day, we are all trying our absolute best. none of us superhuman are and impervious to getting sick during this process and that is what makes this process and that is what makes this whole thing is so awful for all of us. as i have observed and seen,

the advice and the care has been excellent, not just beforehand the advice and the care has been excellent, notjust beforehand but especially now at st thomas' hospital. i am absolutely confident the prime minister has and is receiving excellent medical care. i am not his physician. he will have been advised by his own doctors, but ido been advised by his own doctors, but i do know colleagues at st thomas' hospital, and in fact a couple of weeks ago i took the opportunity to visit st thomas' hospital, visit some of the critical care consultants, and i can't tell you how impressed i was, and this is going back a few weeks, at the preparations they were making and the details they were thinking through in terms of how they would deal with an increase in patients with coronavirus. they are among the best critical care clinicians in the world. st thomas' hospital, even when i was a junior doctor many years ago, was world renowned for its critical care capacity so i am

absolutely confident, absolutely confident, that my colleagues, all the clinical staff, doctors and nurses and everyone else at saint thomas's is providing exceptional, world—class care. thomas's is providing exceptional, world-class care. does that answer your question, james? the point in downing street on social distancing, in hindsight could that have been more vigorously observed?” in hindsight could that have been more vigorously observed? i think eve ryo ne more vigorously observed? i think everyone is doing their best to follow the guidelines, whether it's at cabinet where we have conducted for the first ever time i think meetings through alternative means and people are appropriately following all the guidance. that doesn't mean we can completely limit the spread of infection in this process but i think the good news is that there is good updates on the prime minister's condition. those who have been away, many of them are now returning to work. but whether people are away, social distancing or physically in the same place, the business of government throughout all of this has gone on and gone on

at pace. the team, whether it's politicians, cabinet ministers, civil servants, doctors and medical advisers, are working night and day to get the country through this and support the british people at this time. ican support the british people at this time. i can absolutely give you that assurance. can we go to tim ross from bloomberg. chancellor, you say the prime minister is improving. do you expect to see him be able to leave hospital next week sometime? what are your expectations there? and also on brexit, chancellor, you had said before you are very honest about the risks to the economy and the fact there will be a significant impact and potentially a recession later this year. do you think it's really a good idea to leave the european union if the uk economy is in orjust coming out of a very deep recession? and to your two colleagues, the decision on whether to persist with lockdown measures will be taken next week. what will

the full range of data that you are analysing be in order to take that decision, and are we at the beginning of the peak now? how far off is your best guess? if i could start, i think... off is your best guess? if i could start, ithink... you off is your best guess? if i could start, i think... you talked about, should we still leave the european union. we have left the european union, that has happened. what we are doing now is negotiating the final terms of our trading arrangements. that work is carrying on. david frost, the prime minister's chief sherpa in this regard, held talks earlier this week with the deputy counterpart over at the eu. they have exchanged legal texts a nd the eu. they have exchanged legal texts and set out clarification as they both wanted from each other and i think david is talking to his direct counterpart either later this week or next week to plan the next steps for the meetings and continued

negotiations over april and may. we remain committed to the timeline, concluding those talks and negotiations, that work is happening, albeit over video conference rather than in person. i think that is pretty clear as a statement of where we are on that. angela, the question... one of the great strengths on the kind of mathematical modelling that sage is drawing on in order to give advice is that it pulls together all different data streams. my collea g u es different data streams. my colleagues who are generating that advice will be using hard data on things like numbers of people arriving at hospital and numbers of people having to be admitted to critical care in hospital. but also things like data on how many people there are in stations, survey data, asking people what behaviour is precisely they have toned down in the last few weeks. i could bore you by telling you how many different data streams are under

consideration, but that is the strength of that approach. it allows you to take a lot of different kinds of information and do the bestjob you can of synthesising them together in order to understand the situation we have been in in the past that has brought us to where we are now and then do what you can to project into the future what will happen next. but i'm not going to do that right now because that's something we do in a rather formal process. the modellers come to sage and then sage come together to send that over to politicians in order to make decisions. sage has been publishing its material, so that is available. and also to add many of the academic groups that contribute to sage publish their own research and modelling independently, so that it is there for all to see in terms of those key academic groups. it is there for all to see in terms of those key academic groupsm it is there for all to see in terms of those key academic groups. if i could possibly wrap up. thank you to tim for that. thank you to angela

and steve for answering all those questions. our announcement today was about supporting charities, who area was about supporting charities, who are a critical part of the social fabric of this country. it builds on the economic plan we have already announced to protect people's health and economic security by supporting public services by our nhs, backing business and protecting jobs and incomes. if i can conclude by saying this, our economic plan and the plan for charities that we announced today are built on one simple idea. that we depend on each other. thank you. studio: chancellor rishi sunak ending the press conference today from downing street. a reminder of the main points that have been made today in that news briefing. the chancellor has said the prime minister's condition is improving and he is sitting up and engaging with his clinical team. he said

borisjohnson is receiving excellent ca re borisjohnson is receiving excellent care at st thomas' hospital. professor angela mclean said the spread of the virus is not accelerating but this was not the time to become complacent. the deputy chief scientific adviser said this count of new cases in the uk day by day over the last few weeks is not accelerating out of control. the government also announced a £750 million funding package for uk charities but the chancellor did warn he couldn't save everyjob, every business or charity with his emergency measures. rishi sunak also said they would match pound for pound what the bbc charity appeal raises, that is broadcast on april 23. it is a linkup between children in need and comic relief. our political correspondent helen catt is at westminster. starting with the health of the prime minister. we are told he is improving and even sitting up albeit

still in intensive care. positive words from rishi sunak, spelling out a bit more than we got in the official update at lunchtime from number ten that said borisjohnson was responding to treatment and that he was in good spirits. he is sitting up and engaging positively with his clinical team but he is still in intensive care, so a little more detail about the state of the pm's health. and the big announcement today was about to charities and some much needed help. i'm sure some charities around the country will feel relieved right now. charities have reported in recent days that they have been struggling, they have seen donations full and they are struggling to keep services going in some cases. we know that the national council for volu nta ry know that the national council for voluntary organisations had estimated charities in england would lose an estimated £4 billion over three months. the chancellor's announcement today that he is setting up a £750 million fund to help will be welcomed. there has

been quite a bit of pressure from mps in recent weeks on this issue. conservative mp damian green signed a letter earlier this week saying this was a welcome and necessary but he says he is particularly pleased that there is a £370 million of that, a special pot for small and local charities who are making a difference in the outbreak. but there are questions raised about whether it will be enough, quite frankly. labour mp stephen doughty, who was pushing on this issue for a few weeks told me, this is welcome but it is well short of what is needed. he pointed out the london marathon alone raises £66 million. he thinks this issue will have to be revisited. he also says he has concerns about the chancellor talking about charities being able to use the furlough scheme and having access to that. he says a lot of charities are providing crucial services so furlough in years not an option because people then couldn't

carry out duties for the charity. but it is a big injection of cash to help the charity sector. one thing that came up in the press converts was more clarity and information on what is happening around this review on lockdown measures. we heard rishi sunak say there would be a special cobra committee meeting tomorrow morning to decide the approach to the review of this lockdown, but it would be based on data from the scientific advisory group which would not be available until next week. he would not be drawn into speculating about how and when any measures could change saying that for the moment he didn't want to speculate on the future and the important thing for now was too stay—at—home. we saw in some of the graphs and scientific advice from the professionals there, we saw angela mclean, deputy scientific adviser say that the spread is not

accelerating. stephen powis, the medical director of nhs england said the graphs are showing people are complying with the new restrictions, but the overarching message, as it has been throughout this, is this is not now the time to stop at this weekend. it's incredibly important to keep on respecting them. helen catt, thank you. before the press conference started we were told the latest death toll. the figure, another 938 people have died from the virus, the largest increase over a 24—hour period so far. with me now is our health correspondent lauren moss. we were warned to expect big numbers, a large number of people to have died, but it is still shocking when you hear it. to make a record

increases over the last two days but it is in line, as we keep being told, with scientific predictions. but it is still very concerning and worrying and sad for these patients and their families. 938 worrying and sad for these patients and theirfamilies. 938 more people have died since yesterday afternoon. if you take into account what happened last week when we saw a dip in the number of recorded deaths over the weekend, there were similar increases on the tuesday and wednesday, which is what we are seeing again this week. if you look into the overall increase, it isn't as large as it could have been. that is not to understate how sad this is and we are also hearing this afternoon 15 people have died at a ca re afternoon 15 people have died at a care home in luton, 15 residents, and five of those at least were confirmed positive with covid—19, at a care home in luton. public health england released a statement saying they are working closely with staff and residents. as i understand, the

daily death toll we are getting, is for hospitals only, the figures recorded in hospitals, tragic case ina care recorded in hospitals, tragic case in a care home there. these were residents living in a care home, not necessarily patients transferred to hospital, unless of course they have been somewhere in the interim of that period. those figures for deaths in the community are released by the office for national statistics weekly but there is a delay of 7—10 days on those catching up delay of 7—10 days on those catching up with those figures. the hospital recorded figures, 7097. let's get more from the chief executive of the sue ryder charity providing support for people with terminal illness and neurological conditions, as well as those recently bereaved. shejoins me now. good afternoon and thank you for joining me now. good afternoon and thank you forjoining us. your reaction to the

news this afternoon. we would like to say huge thank you and i'm grateful to the chancellor for the money he is given to the hospices. it is going to come as such a huge relief to our doctors, nurses and co nsulta nts relief to our doctors, nurses and consultants who are only focused on wanting to give care to the patients they are looking after. as someone said to me last week, we just want to do our duty, which i think is very telling in terms of how the health workers feel about what they wa nt to health workers feel about what they want to focus on at the moment. how difficult has it been looking for you? you didn't know it was coming until the last few moments. how difficult has the situation been over the last few weeks? we only get 30% of our funding from statutory sources and rely rely on the other 70% coming from shops or fundraising. it has been a worrying time. we have tried to make sure that our staff are remaining positive and motivated because we

know people are working hard in our homes and hospices and you don't wa nt homes and hospices and you don't want them to feel worried when they are doing such a typical front line job already. this is going to make such a tremendous difference for us in terms of the next few weeks and are planning on going forward. you must have lost so much money in the short term. the number of events, the london marathon, 66,000,001 day. you must have lost so much money that would have been raised in the next few months. yes and it's important to remember that money will not come back. i'm sure the public will come back when our shops open again. and us with their donations. i have heard people have been e—mailing and have been going to our emergency appeal because they understand hospices rely on local funding and that we do push all of that money to front line care. that is why the flow of that money is so important. it is excellent news

today and we will continue to work today and we will continue to work to do everything we can to support as many people in our hospices and community as we can over the coming weeks. heidi travis, thank you for joining us. now to china and wuhan has lifted its lockdown after nearly three months. how did the city's residents survive it and what are their tips for the rest of the world? the bbc chinese service spoke to several of them about their experience.

voices from wuhan where the virus originated. tomorrow night, thursday, is the time when we have begun showing appreciation for nhs workers and care workers doing such an extraordinaryjob. adam mcclean has been meeting some of them. this daycare centre in south manchester would normally feed its elderly visitors here every day, but this team are taking their service to the doorstep, keeping in touch and feeding those who need help. we still keep in contact with those people who normally come in, and they rely on the day centre. even if it's just taking the dinners to them, and to still have that contact.

this team are delivering hot meals and supplies for those who can't go out or have nobody to shop for them. the people who use the service are grateful for support. they're heroes, there's no doubt about it, they should get a medal for what they do. all these people that are all caring, and girls like yourselves, these ladies here who have helped me, ithink it's just fantastic. imean, it's... i'm just lost for words to say. all i can say is that they do a fantasticjob. they've always got smiley faces and, yes, they do make it better for us, you know. we're expecting things to be pretty gloomy — they cheer us up, they're great. in all parts of the uk, carers are busy delivering vital services that many people depend on. from the elderly to the vulnerable and those with complex medical needs, carers are essential in helping people live their everyday lives. rosemary is part of the nursing service team for marie curie in belfast. overnight, she's been visiting those

requiring end—of—life care. the family were waiting just to discuss the medication with me, and what would be the most appropriate action. so, we had a chat and i've given the patient an injectionjust to help and make her much more comfortable. magician wayne dobson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1980s. he was moved to hear why his carer wants to help him. it's an incredible feeling, as well, you know, that you make such a huge difference to someone's life. all my life, my career, i was very career—minded and thought about myself. to know that people think about others — it'sjust very nice.

that hard work continues every day for the millions involved in providing care. adam mclean, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz. hello. it was a warm day across some parts of the uk, in sussex temperatures got up to 23.9 degrees according to the met office. as far as the rest of the week is concerned, looking at the uk as a whole it is going to stay settled and warm, but not absolutely everywhere because it is still fairly cloudy and cool across parts of scotland. in fact, you can see the overcast skies, that ribbon of cloud, the weather front across scotla nd cloud, the weather front across scotland and northern ireland and that's with us through wednesday and into thursday but to the south, high pressure dominating the weather meaning settled conditions and often sunny and clear at night. variable amounts of cloud across the uk during the night but here is the weather front slicing scotland

during the night but here is the weatherfront slicing scotland in half. slightly cloudy in grampian into the lowlands. to the south, a little milder, around 9 degrees thing in the morning on thursday but it will be cold in the countryside. variable cloud tomorrow, the best sunshine in the south and south—west. the north sea coast may end up being cloudy, anyway from edinburgh down to hull could be overcast and cool with temperatures arriving do make around 12 degrees but in cardiff we have sunshine up to 22. good friday, weatherfronts just to the west of our neighbourhood getting closer. that cloud associated with these fronts mean increasing cloud for western fringes of the uk and a few spots of rain. the sunniest and warmest weather will be in the south and south—east where temperatures could get up to 24 degrees and into the low 20s as far north as yorkshire. that is good friday. how about

saturday? these weather fronts are still flirting with the uk. we will see a change in the wind direction over the bank holiday over the easter weekend. temperatures changing as well, london by the time we get to monday, temperatures down to 13 degrees, peeking through friday and saturday and a big dip at the start of the week. it looks as though it will turn cooler through the easter weekend but only gradually. that's it from me. bye— bye.

today at 6... more than a fortnight after the lockdown started, another record number of deaths — 938 — reported over a 24—hour period. as the number of reported cases continues to rise, the government says it's giving more money to charities to help the fight. it's another night in hospital for the prime minister,

who's still in intensive care, but ministers say he's responding to treatment. the prime minister remains in intensive care, where his condition is improving. i can also tell you that he has been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with the clinical team.