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. we'll have the latest,

as a leading expert questions the credibility of the government's target for testing. the target is 100,000 a day by the end of the month — but that will be a stretch, according to experts. we've got a really full unit, a really full hospital. so, we're going to get on and make some decisions for the day... we'll be hearing from frontline health workers, describing the challenges they're facing. a major area of concern is the situation in care homes. we'll be reporting from northern ireland. and in st petersburg, we see the performers determined to keep on entertaining during the lockdown. coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news: there's going to be a bumper summer of athletics in two years‘ time, as the world championships are moved to 2022.

good evening. the prime minister is said to be ‘responding to treatment‘ for coronavirus, as he prepares to spend a fourth night in hospital, where doctors say he is ‘clinically stable‘. and he is sitting up and talking to staff. health experts say that the lockdown rules — introduced by the prime minister over two weeks ago — will be reviewed as planned next week, though there‘s no suggestion that they‘ll be relaxed anytime soon. and the world health organisation has warned countries against lifting the restrictions at this stage. well, the latest daily figures show that 938 people have died in hospitals in the uk. that‘s the highest figure reported so far in a 24—hour period,

but that figure does not include deaths in the community or in care homes. and it brings the total number of deaths in the uk so far to 7,097. we start this evening with the latest from westminster, and our political editor, laura kuenssberg. thank you, huw, well, this is clearly still a very serious situation for the country as the numbers of deaths continue to rise, nearly at 1,000 now. but there is better news about the prime minister‘s health. boris johnson better news about the prime minister‘s health. borisjohnson was taken to hospital on sunday and then moved to intensive care the next day but, tonight, we understand his condition is improving and he has been sitting up in bed. still the weight, the prime minister still in intensive care, but boris johnson‘s condition in hospital is improving, he is sitting up in bed. the dilemmas for government will still come. the chancellor taking the lead today. the latest from the hospital is that 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. this is more than an immediate health emergency though for the prime minister and the many thousands of families around the country with loved ones at risk. shuttered shops, closed commerce and the signs of a hit to the nation‘s wallet for as long as this lockdown goes on. to accept, chancellor, underthe lockdown, there is a trade—off between protecting people‘s health and jobs? our priority is to protect people‘s lives and health and well—being, our overriding priority. we have also put in place unprecedented and significant measures to protect people‘s jobs and we will see a significant impact on our economy. and i have been very honest that in spite of our unprecedented measures in scale and scope, i can‘t stand here and say i can save every single job and protect every single business or every single charity. it is not fun

-- it is every single charity. it is not fun —— it is not farfrom every single charity. it is not fun —— it is not far from three weeks since the original stay at home instruction and by law, ministers have to say by next thursday if the rules should stay in place. but with saving lives the absolute priority, nobody round here thinks the doors will be thrown open suddenly, but the longer the emptiness lasts, the more the financial hurt to the country. there are simply no easy choices ahead. we are still getting bad figures and therefore, it seems to me saying it is likely the lockdown would be relaxed in any way, a decision taken next week, would be premature, not least because not only might that have public health implications, it would also have economic implications. some of the country‘s leaders are crystal clear already the rules won‘t go next week. crystal clear already the rules won't go next week. i must be plain with all members. these restrictions will not and then. we will not throw away the gains we have made and the lives we can save. the peak of the

disease may be seen, but may only be the end of the beginning of a difficult period for westminster. prime minister‘s returned to work itself is still unknown. laura kuenssberg, news, westminster. 0ur social affairs correspondent michael buchanan in here. because i want to talk a bit about the chancellor‘s announcement about help to charities, the latest package of support. what did you make of that? well, the thing that has been noticeable over the last few weeks speaking to a number of charities involved particularly with the elderly and people helping vulnerable families is they have seen unprecedented demand to try and help these groups. at the same time, as their donations have dried up overnight in some cases. the sector have calculated they would lose about £4 billion intonation —— donations over this 12 week period, so as the chancellor to be fair acknowledged, this package of support will not save every charity and every person working for those charities. it is a headline figure

of £750 million worth of support for charities, but half of it will be allocated through government departments borrowed to allow to help national charities. half of it roughly to a new national lottery scheme to help small and medium—size charities and £20 million as well to help a bbc charity appeal later on this month. charities can also use other government schemes like the furloughing scheme to help with employers as well. the initial reaction i have had over the past half hour has been it is welcome, it may be the first step because of this £4 billion shortfall they are predicting, some charities saying we need to look at this again, and the second piece of reaction is how quickly can this come on stream? some charities simply do not have the staff to be able to fill in complicated grant application forms. michael, once again, ex very much. social affairs correspondent michael buchanan. the government‘s stated aim of carrying out 100,000 tests a day, by the end of this month,

has been described as a ‘stretch‘ by sir paul nurse, the head of a leading research unit. the current figure is about 14,000 per day. sir paul made his remarks in evidence to the house of commons science committee. 0ur health editor, hugh pym, looks at the government‘s performance in meeting its testing target. the planes may be grounded, but there is some activity at gatwick airport as part of a response to the coronavirus. a long—stay car park is being used as a drive—through testing center for nhs stop. other sites like the 02 in southeast london are already in operation as health workers wanting to come out of self—isolation get tested to see if they are cleared to get back to work. another in surrey still seemed very quiet. after repeated criticism over low levels of testing, the government last week called on academic and business

laboratories to help a national effort to help boost capacity, with a highly ambitious new target of 100,000 a day by the end of this month. we all have to work together to try to achieve what has to be achieved. 100,000 is a stretch, though. it is a stretch. three new large laboratories, including this one here at milton keynes, have been set up to process tests on nhs workers. the official leading the programme told a commons committee they would significantly boost capacity. we are at the stage now where those labs have been through the set—up and the testing phase and are starting to roll out testing, so we are back to see their capacity increase exponentially. testing in the uk has gone up to just under 13,000 people a day, the government target is on the number of tests — now about 14,700 a day. some people are sometimes tested twice. still short of the 100,000 a day target in a few weeks‘ time.

this occupational therapist who visits patients in their home now has the virus. she told me why testing for nhs frontline staff is so important. it is an anxious time for everybody, everybody would love to have testing done. i myself would have ideally liked to have had testing done a few weeks ago because it is a bit like, well, are we being exposed, are we being carriers? because this is seven to 14 days. with more covid-19 patients expected, a new temporary hospital at the manchester central conference centre will be ready within a week according to local health chiefs. and next week is when the start of the peak pressure on the start of the peak pressure on the system is predicted. two weeks ago, i spoke to three hospital doctors about their hopes and fears for the future. since then, rob has been off work with the virus and returned. we don't know what the outcome of some of these patients will be. i caught up with katy again this morning. this is a virus that

doesn't have a specific treatment and all we are able to do is support people's organs as best we can and hope that they recover, and significant numbers of patients are not recovering and they are dying and that is obviously a terrible tragedy for every family. but many recover. hilton here gets a rousing sendoff from staff at leicester royal infirmary after getting the all—clear. 0ur health editor, hugh pym, is with me. we have these very startling figures today about loss of life and, at the same time, we have new doubts being expressed about the government‘s targets for testing so what you make of that? huw, yes, scientists may have been predicting the line measuring deaths would rise in this way but that doesn‘t anyway reduce fat it is shocking to hear of more than 900 deaths reported in a single day. one way out of this has been

seen as widespread community testing. we heard earlier about testing. we heard earlier about testing to see whether people currently have the virus or not, but a lot of hope has been placed in antibody testing. that is a simple finger prick and a blood test allowing somebody to know if they have had the virus in the past and have had the virus in the past and have built up immunity, and that would allow people may be with an immunity certificate to go about their business. the government has placed orders for 17 and a half million antibody test kits. a lot of cold water has been poured in recent days and officials confirmed they we re days and officials confirmed they were not sure whether these would work or not, but we learnt today from that select committee that the government has paid money for a certain number of kits to come over and be tested and it might now look for compensation for that money that has been paid out. once again, thanks very much. hugh pym, our health editor. as the outbreak affects every part of the uk, frontline health workers have been describing the challenges they face. 0ur health correspondent,

catherine burns, has more details. she has been in touch with staff and asking them to keep video diaries. a critical care consultant shows as two days at work at a hospital in buckinghamshire. as a consultant in intensive care medicine at milton keynes university hospital, drjamie strachan is at the heart of the fight against coronavirus. but first of all, he‘s a husband and a dad. bye, guys, see you later on! bye... bye. just setting off to work. got back about 11 last night. started to see a rapid influx of very unwell people. so, it‘s something we were prepared for. but it‘s still such a strange and unusual way the world is going. we have got a really full unit, and a really full hospital, so we‘re going to get on and make some decisions for the day and plans for people.

that was the start of a long day, dealing with some of the very sickest patients. none of them are allowed any visitors. their families can only hope to see them again if they recover. you know, there‘s lots of talk about equipment and ventilators and masks and these things but, really, the way we will get through this is with people that are doing theirjob. jamie had monday off with his family, but was back at work early yesterday. about a third of the patients here are in a prone position, and that‘s where we lie people on their front when they‘re receiving ventilation and it helps with the oxygen levels in the blood. so, today, my task, with a couple... well, six of us are going to go round in a kind of team and put back onto their backs. so, we‘ve just unproned our first case. it took seven of us. it tookjamie and a team

of several others about two hours to turn three patients. they had to check each one was stable enough to move and then do it very carefully to keep all the breathing equipment in place. we have, at the moment, doubled the number of people we normally have intubated, with the tube in the breathing pipe. so, that‘s quite a bit of work with us, but something we‘ve been preparing forfor weeks. jamie knows we‘re not at the peak of disparity and even once we‘re past that, everyone, doctors, patients and families, will need to recover physically and emotionally. outbreaks of coronavirus in care homes have led to calls for far more testing and greater protection for staff looking after elderly residents. the northern ireland government has revealed there are at least 20 care homes dealing with multiple cases

of coronavirus among residents. it‘s put staff in care homes under intense pressure, as our ireland correspondent emma vardy reports. this is the first timejulie bennett has seen her father in four weeks. no, you can‘t touch my hand. he doesn‘t understand why she can‘t come in. heartbreaking, heartbreaking. it was lovely to see him, lovely to see him. staff at this care home in belfast have been coping with a number of suspected and confirmed cases of coronavirus. all 82 residents are being kept in isolation, but it‘s not easy. many have dementia. he‘s looking for us, you know, and saying why‘s his family

not coming to see him? but i know the staff here are so good to him and i know he‘s being well cared for. they‘re afraid to go to work themselves because they probably have vulnerable people at home and young children. the first cases of virus were detected early here. magdalene mitchell, a resident, passed away in hospital. get your phone and take a video. staff are trying to prevent infection as best they can, but residents need hands on care and the virus can spread rapidly. do you worry about your own safety? it‘s hot and tiring,

but behind the masks, still smiles. i‘ve been here for five years and you do care for them like they‘re your own family. i have two children at home. one of them‘s asd and has additional needs and a weak immune system so as well as putting myself at risk, ifeel like i‘m putting my family at risk as well by coming to work. but during this pandemic, the residents need us more now than they ever have done. staff take their own temperature daily and testing for the virus is being accelerated. getting more people back to work is badly needed. some care homes have lost a third of their teams. the main challenge is staffing, at the minute. we‘ve had a lot of staff who are self—isolating and the other is the fear factor for the staff, the unknown, i suppose, because nobody knows what they‘re coming into. i love you! god bless you. the smallest interaction means a lot, the smile and wink. no—one knows how long this separation will last. care workers beside loved ones,

while families cannot. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. in east london, seven residents of an care home have died with coronavirus. another 21 residents are displaying covid—19 symptoms at the hawthorn green home, in stepney, which houses 48 people. a dozen staff members are also off work, either self—isolating or shielding. 0ur correspondent angus crawford is at the home now. it describes itself as a luxury care home with a heart. it can have 90 residents, it doesn‘t have so many at the moment, of course. in its most at the moment, of course. in its m ost rece nt at the moment, of course. in its most recent inspection it was rated as needing improvement. 0n the gate behind me you can see a sign that says do not enter. as you said, the report suggests seven patients have died of covid—19. there are another 21 residents showing symptoms or

signs and that a total of 48 are in the building. but crucially, many of the building. but crucially, many of the staff are also off. 12 at home 01’ the staff are also off. 12 at home or isolating. the care home issued a statement saying it is caring for all of its residents in isolation and showing strict infection control measures. but we have had reports of deaths at care homes at luton, dumbarton and glasgow and this was a lwa ys dumbarton and glasgow and this was always the great fear of public health officials, that the virus would make its way into some of the 26,000 care homes across the uk. we have heard many reports of a lack of personal protective equipment. the government insists it is working around the clock to support the care home sector. angus, many thanks. passengers on some london buses are being asked to board through the middle doors — it‘s a trial to try to protect drivers from coronavirus. the majority of the 14 public transport staff who‘ve died in the capital after contracting covid—19 were bus drivers. some of their relatives say they weren‘t adequately protected,

as our transport correspondent, tom burridge, reports. for the people keeping vital transport links open, the risk of contracting coronavirus is very real. this bus driver had the virus and has been back at work for two weeks. we‘ve changed her voice. i‘m scared because he did not know who is going to get on your bus and what they carry, i have to buy my own gloves, my own mask. the only thing the company provided me with was a little bottle of alcohol—free hand sanitizer that does not do anything. the companies are not doing enough to protect their drivers. this is him with his son. bus driver max was 36. he was an absolute charming boy. he was treated in hospital for coronavirus and discharged. 0nce home, he fell very ill. i went and knelt in front of him. i held his face with both

of my hands and i said, "look at me, look at me, talk to me." and... he said to me... "i'm not going to make it. "i am not going to make it." bus companies say cleaning has been an enhanced and plastic screens would protect drivers, in london passenger should now get on through the middle door. boarding only through the middle door it might make it harderfor passengers to keep their distance from each other, so for now it is just being trailed. elsewhere in the uk, screens to protect drivers and empty seats at the front should now be the norm. a bus driver in bristol also died from covid—19 last month. the mayor of liverpool says clear guidance is needed on whether drivers should wear masks. tom burridge, bbc news

the scottish government today changed the way it reports coronavirus deaths in scotland. the new figures show that between mid—march and april 5th, there were 354 registered deaths in scotland where covid—19 was listed as a definite or probable cause. it‘s significantly higher than the 220 deaths previously reported. the domestic violence charity refuge says there has been another huge upsurge in calls to its helpline. it says they more than doubled overnight on monday after the charity reported a rise in women seeking help during the outbreak. the charity said earlier this week that it had experienced a 25% rise in calls and messages. at the old bailey, a lorry driver, maurice robinson, has pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter after the deaths of a group of vietnamese migrants.

the 31 males and eight females were discovered in a refrigerated trailer last october in grays, essex. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford is here. he has been monitoring this case. tell us more about what is been happening today. this is the first time anyone has admitted responsibility for the deaths of those 39 vietnamese people found at the back of that sealed container. ina the back of that sealed container. in a video conference style court hearing which reporters could watch remotely, maurice robinson said guilty as each of the 39 charges of manslaughter was read out. he has previously also admitted being part ofa previously also admitted being part of a conspiracy to assist illegal immigration. but because of the situation at the moment, we‘re not sure when he will get sentenced. four other men also took part in the court hearing today. gheorghe nica denied the 39 charges of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist illegal immigration and the

other men face a single charge of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration. two pleaded not guilty on the other has yet to enter a plea. thank you. a key question which has emerged in the coronavirus crisis is whether the public should wear face masks. countries including israel, indonesia and morocco, as well as the united states, are now either insisting that they‘re worn or encouraging people to do so. but the advice of the world health organization and the government here is that they‘re only needed by healthcare workers and carers. 0ur science editor, david shukman, has been investigating. a computer simulation of someone coughing in a supermarket. this is new research, still to be confirmed, that shows how coronavirus could spread and linger in the air, infecting people nearby. the scientist involved say

the obvious conclusion is to avoid places that might be busy. first of all, don‘t go there if you don‘t need to go there. if you need to go there, go there only as seldom as possible. and number three, stay there as short a time as possible. now, if someone is showing symptoms, they shouldn‘t be going to a supermarket or anywhere else, but there‘s growing evidence that people can have the virus and not show symptoms and that‘s one reason why the us government, and many others, are now urging people that if they do have to go out, they wear a mask. here‘s how you can make your own face covering in a few easy steps... america‘s top medic, showing how all kinds of household items can become a mask. it‘s a massive shift in policy. by contrast, the world health organization and the british government say the public don‘t need to do this. you have yourself a cloth face cover. here in the uk, the guidances that it‘s health care workers and carers

who should wear them and the worry is that supplies might run out if the public are trying to buy them as well. there are different views about this among scientists. one is that if you wear a mask, you might reduce the risk of passing the virus to others. another is that once you put a mask on, you might get a false sense of security. you might think you can get close to people again or stop washing your hands so often and you might treat the mask too casually. wearing a mask must be consistent. it‘s not on to wear a mask and then decide to take it off to smoke a cigarette or to eat a meal. it must be worn full—time. at the same time, when the mask is taken off, the outside surface may be contaminated as well and hands become contaminated and then that is a source of infection. in any event, more and more countries are demanding that people wear masks.

in indonesia, they are handing them out. and the italian region of tuscany is scaling up deliveries because everyone will have to wear one. attitudes are changing fast. david shukman, bbc news. let‘s take a look at some of today‘s other news. the lockdown in the city of wuhan in china‘s hubei province where the pandemic started, has been lifted. anyone who has a "green" code on a special smartphone health app is now allowed to leave for the first time since 23rd january. train, road and rail connections have now been re established. france has gone into recession after seeing its worst economic contraction since the second world war. france‘s national bank says the economy shrank by 6% in the first three months of this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. spain‘s daily death toll has risen for the second day in a row up by 757,

compared with 743 on tuesday. it‘s far lower than the record 950 deaths reported on 2nd april, but it shows the crisis is far from over. almost 15,000 people have died in spain and the country has more confirmed cases than any other in europe. in russia, as in so many other countries including the uk, measures to prevent the spread of covid—19 have resulted in entertainment venues being shut. many recorded performances are now being streamed online some free of charge. and for the dancers of one‘s of russia‘s oldest theatres, the mikhailovsky in st petersburg, the show has been going on, as our correspondent steve rosenberg reports. music plays. russians love ballet and the mikhailovsky is one of the country‘s top troupes.

they‘re in lockdown now, but the stars of this stage have found a creative way to keep performing. they‘re doing it at home and posting online. it‘s less classical, more kitchen, really. don quixote at dinner time. valeria normally uses a fan for this bit, but in quarantine, a plate will do. ah, the emotion of it all. a scene from the ballet giselle, with a saucepan of russian dumplings. there‘s clearly an appetite for this bizarre ballet. in russia, the video has gone viral. "stay positive, that‘s the message", prinicpal dancer ivan tells me. "life might be tough now, but a good mood and a sense of humour can save the world."