this is bbc news. i'mjane hail. the headlines at 3pm: no running, please. an eastern message to stay indoors this weekend has more than 900 further deaths of people with coronavirus are announced across the uk. downing street says the prime minister continues to be in very good spirits in hospital after leaving intensive care. his father urges him to rest. new york starts to bury some of its dead in mass graves, with nearly 160,000 people infected with the virus across the state. here, there are concerns that postal workers aren't being fully protected from covid—19. nearly £2 million lost in virus —related

fraud. we confront those behind scam websites selling protective equipment they can provide. you are a scammer, though, aren't you? you're trying to rip people off, people in need. and also this hour, bringing the outdoors in. how to stay connected with nature during lockdown. hello. your afternoon. more than 900 further deaths of people with coronavirus has been announced gci’oss coronavirus has been announced across the uk. as the eastern weekend begins, with hot weatherfor many, we are being reminded not to go out unless it's absolutely necessary. the government has launched a publicity campaign with a

message stay—at—home and have a safe eastern. boris johnson message stay—at—home and have a safe eastern. borisjohnson is out of intensive care and is said to be in extremely good spirits at st thomas hospital in london. police in scotla nd hospital in london. police in scotland have handed out more than 500 fines for people who have flouted the lockdown rules. new york state now has more coronavirus cases than any country outside the us, with almost 160,000 people infected. and eu finance ministers have agreed an emergency rescue package worth half e1 trillion for the economies worst hit by the pandemic. let's get the latest on the outbreak, first of all, with this report from richard galpin. the bank holiday has begun with beautiful weather in mary areas, like here in brighton. but there's also trepidation. will we all abide by the social distancing instructions to ensure we don't now cause a surge in infections? no running, please.

here on the thames footpath, they're stopping runners who normally crowd this route. and on facebook today, a doctor working in a hospitalfilled with coronavirus patients begs people to respect the government and those pleas would surely be reinforced by the prime minister, seen here before he went into hospital. he is now out of intensive care and recuperating from his battle with coronavirus. but it may be weeks before he's back in work. i don't think you

would say that this was he is out of the woods now. he has to take time. i don't have the details but i cannot believe you can walk away from this and go straight back to downing street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment. there's no rest, though, for the construction workers who have almost completed the building of another nightingale field hospital, this one in birmingham. it will have up to 4000 beds. there are indications hospital admissions and new infections across the country are beginning to level off. and government officials and experts are now focusing on ways in which the lockdown can eventually be lifted. measures will be targeted probably by age and geography and we will need to introduce in my view, not any sort of policy, just my view, much larger levels of testing at the community level.

we need to isolate cases more effectively and identify how transmissions happen. much depends on what we all do in the coming weeks. if social distancing is observed, then experts hope the spread of coronavirus will decline. it needs to get to lower levels before there's any possibility of the being lifted. richard galpin, bbc news. well, our health editor, hugh pym, explained about how the restrictions could eventually be eased. well, a professor at imperial college london is on the government committee and it is his modelling which has informed a lot of the decision—making and you heard of bit there of him saying that one way of lifting the restrictions is to do it in different areas at different times, maybe different age groups, restrictions being lifted for them. scientists think that this might

well be possible because you might find in one area it is ahead of another area, london for example has been ahead in case numbers to other parts of the uk, and it could be passing there and you might want to lift the restrictions but not somewhere else. of course, there are immense practical difficulties with this. how do you stop somebody travelling from one area where maybe bars and restaurants are not open to another area where they are. it also depends on mass testing. professor ferguson said it will only really work if you can keep testing people right across the local community to see how deeply entrenched the virus ia and there isn't the testing capacity at the moment. the antibody test, looking for antibodies in people's bloodstream to see if they have had a virus, that is nowhere near being ready, so i think what is meant here is you could do this in the autumn if there is a second spike, another beginning of

the virus taking off again, not the decision that might be made next month or so by the government about whether to start lifting the existing restrictions for everybody. well, as we say, we'll all been urged to to the restrictions about lockdown and stick to social distancing guidelines. 0ur correspondence spent the morning with officers in the west midlands. park life in the lockdown. birmingham has more than 500 and this is one of the biggest. the weather is perfect for exercise, but it might be bad news for infections if too many people come out. police officers are patrolling to make sure people keep their distance. you can sit on the bench and you can walk around but staying stationary... are you from the same household? everyone is doing their bit and the park rangers now find themselves on the front line, trying to enforce the rules. it appears from the government figures that what people are doing is having a beneficial effect. this weekend will be a big one

because everyone is off and it is just making sure that you keep yourself and your family safe and keep the pressure of the nhs. this park is 250 acres so steve has his job cut out and will spend the rest of the day patrolling. his staff are doing the same in all of the city's other parks. since the new coronavirus powers were introduced, west midlands police has issued just 155 instructions to go home, 138 notices of dispersal and 17 fixed penalty notices. there are 3 million people in the west midlands force area, which means only a tiny percentage have had to be dealt with under the new regulations. this is a really important weekend in a region that has seen some of the biggest numbers in infections. if people will stick by the rules forjust a little bit longer, those numbers will start to come down. the vast majority of people have got the message and they are fully aware that they are playing an important part in fighting the virus. i suppose what they are saying they don't want people travelling for a long distance. yeah, and that makes sense. we're just trying to

do as much as we can to get rid of this virus. if the lockdown is to come to an end, then people need to stick to coronavirus regulations, especially this weekend when the temptation to go out and gather in groups is at its greatest. if you are going to your local park, enjoy the peace and tranquillity and hope for better days to come. nearly £2 million had been lost in coronavirus related fraud in the uk since the outbreak began. that figure comes from the police. the bbc has learned that most of it comes from bogus companies selling nonexistent protective equipment and sanitiser. criminals in west africa have set up hundreds of websites in the past somewhere in west africa,

hot demand and plenty of suppliers. look at this. as fear of the virus spreads, so do the adverts. everyone is looking for masks, disposable gloves, and hand sanitiser. just one click away. even a covid—19 testing kit, and there's glowing reviews. exce pted kit, and there's glowing reviews. excepted sulphate. time to bring in an expert. scammers are fairly parasitic and reactionary nature when there is spikes in a need for a product. they will flock in towards the need for that product and exploited. the damage is actually huge. i spoke to a business last week that was actually defrauded of £180,000, which was frankly shocking. so just £180,000, which was frankly shocking. sojust how £180,000, which was frankly shocking. so just how easy is it to place an order? you sell surgical gloves and masks? 0h,

place an order? you sell surgical gloves and masks? oh, good, good. i'm looking for quite a lot. how many can you sell me? the maximum we can supply is 300,000 masks. how many? elementary hundred thousand. but you're not our you? you're a scammer. we know you're a scammer. is this conversation over, sir? you're a scammer. your time to rip people off, people in need. so he hung up. i don't think he has got any masks or gloves. he just wants my money and they won't send me anything. scammers don't care at all, so long as they get their money. that's all that matters to them. people are very desperate right now, there is so much of a shortage, people are looking everywhere to try and find them. they feel betrayed. they feel completely ripped off. they feel angry. at a time of crisis, fear and exploitation go hand—in—hand.

new york has started to bury some of its dead in mass graves as the city's daily death rate from the pandemic continues to rise. images taken by drones show labourers working on excavated ground on heart island. new york is the worst hit city in the us, which is now the epicentre of the pandemic. this is heart island, near the bronx. in the 19th century, a burial place for those whose next—of—kin is not known or his family are not able to arrange a burial. in the 21st—century, it is now the location for a mass grave. workers used ladders to climb down into a huge pit to stack the coffins. new york now has more coronavirus cases than any single country, nearly 160,000.

more than 7000 people have died here. 0verwhelmed hospitals have no time to be discreet about the dead. bodies are placed in refrigerated trucks, parked outside their main doors. yet despite that, officials still believe there is hope. the number of people admitted to hospital with symptoms is beginning to level out. new york boss mcgovern says social distancing is working, but worms this is no time to relax. the instinct is, well, this is good news and now i can relax because i have been dying to relax and get out of the house and end this groundhog day reality. yeah, you're not out of the woods. new york is bearing the brunt of america's pandemic, yet like so many other places in the world suffering with a silent cooler, it has seen communities come together to thank those on the front line, the health workers. every evening at 7pm, residents say thank you and write messages of support as

medical staff heading to emergency rooms to face another day of battle. lucy hawking is with those details. the number of coronavirus deaths in spain has fallen, part of a trend suggesting the outbreak is beginning to be contained. the country recorded 605 fatalities in the last 24—hour is. that's its lowest total in17 24—hour is. that's its lowest total in 17 days. 24—hour is. that's its lowest total in17 days. in 24—hour is. that's its lowest total in 17 days. in total, spain has suffered nearly 16,000 deaths. it is 14 suffered nearly 16,000 deaths. it is 1a minutes past three. these are the headlines: an eastern message to stay indoors this weekend as more than 900 further deaths of people with coronavirus are announced across the uk. downing street says the prime minister continues to be in good spirits in hospital. he has left intensive ca re in good spirits in hospital. he has left intensive care and gone into a regular word. his father is urging him to rest. and new york are

starting to bury some of its in mass graves, with nearly 160,000 people of infected with coronavirus across the state. now, clap for carers has already become a regular, weekly feature. lots of us take part every thursday evening. now an appeal cold 1 million claps has been launched to raise money for nhs nurses, doctors, staff and volunteers. let's see some of the video that has been produced for this appeal, based on a song by queen. # buddy you're a buy # buddy you're a buy # makea # buddy you're a buy # make a big noise # playing in the street # going to be a big man someday # eve that might on your face # you're a big disgrace # you're a big disgrace # kicking year can over the place # kicking year can over the place # singing we will we will rock you. # singing we will we will rock you. # the clapping we are so familiar with. let's talk to ellie orton, who

is the chief executive of nhs charities together. good afternoon. 1 million claps can explain what you are and what you want the public to do. we want the public to text clap to 70507 and we want to be able to reach 1 to 70507 and we want to be able to reach1 million to 70507 and we want to be able to reach 1 million claps to 70507 and we want to be able to reach1 million claps by to 70507 and we want to be able to reach 1 million claps by next thursday. the idea behind this is that clapping outside is amazing. it really raises the spirits and it shows everybody that we actually do love the nhs but we also want to get those claps inside the hospital so by texting your clap and your message to 70507, those messages can get inside to the hospitals and that donation of £5 with every text makes all the difference to our appeal. so those messages can go straight into the hospitals through the nhs charities, which are all over the country, all of the hospitals, the

ambulance trust, the mental health trust, those thank youse can get inside and really show the amazing nhs staff and volunteers just how much appreciation, how much respect and gratitude that we all have for them. and where does the money actually go? what is it being used for? the £5 million that we would love to be able to raise from the 1 million claps is a part of our national nhs charities covid—19 appeal. that appeal so far has reached £30 million in two and a half weeks and this would be a fantastic addition to that. that money is doing three things. firstly, it is about immediate relief and support for nhs staff, volu nteers relief and support for nhs staff, volunteers and patients. that is supplying well—being boxes, grocery boxes to isolated people at home. it

is kitting out rest and recuperation centres and areas for nhs staff. it is also getting out and giving electronic devices so that patients can speak to their families and friends at home when they are isolated in hospital. it is also ensuring that nhs patients can get out of hospital quickly and safely, and to do that there needs to be really good care and health partnerships around local hospitals. so the nhs charities can resource those partnerships and ensure that patients can get out of hospital safely and quickly, but also so that they can remain and stay out of hospital. and in the final part of the appeal, it's about the long—term health, mental health recovery of nhs patients, and nhs staff and theirfamilies. nhs patients, and nhs staff and their families. everything you're saying makes absolute sense and everything and there's no doubt that

people are extraordinarily for everything that nhs staff are doing ona everything that nhs staff are doing on a daily basis around the clock. there might be people watching this to say some of the things you have just listed there, surely, should just listed there, surely, should just be provided as a matter of course. surely this is what should be there as a mark of a civilised society. it should make up the nhs and social care system in this country, and why would you have to start a country, and why would you have to starta campaign country, and why would you have to start a campaign about it money for it? nhs charities have always been there, working in partnership with there, working in partnership with the nhs. the latest charity funds don't replace government money. that is not how it works. they are on top of government money. and it is about ensuring that patients can have the very best care possible and the best experience possible. now, in a time of national crisis, then it is not necessarily talking about enhancing care. it is actually about saying we are all in this together. and the other side of it is the country love the nhs. they want to be able to say

thank you and give back. and they wa nt to thank you and give back. and they want to be able to show their gratitude and they respect. so these funds don't replace what the government is already doing, which is brilliant. it is additional to that. thanks very much indeed for joining us, chief executive of nhs charities together. many postal workers aren't being properly protected from covid—19 according to one union representing royal mail staff. the bbc has spoken to employees who say there is a shortage of personal protective equipment and that it is almost impossible to social distance inside delivery depots. royal mail says it has invested in ppe and that the health and well—being of itself is its top priority. our correspondent reports. royal mail staff, working shoulder to shoulder in leeds. cramped conditions make it very difficult to keep safely two metres apart. and in northampton, there isn't much social distancing in the canteen.

royal mail say conditions have improved across the business since this footage was filmed last week, but employees told me they still feel unprotected. well, they're scared. they're scared that they're choosing between theirjobs and their safety, and their families' safety. for the first time, a supervisor has now spoken out. he's worried he'll get sacked, so we've concealed his identity. do people feel safe, do you feel safe? i know people who've worked in that business for a0 years—plus, who are terrified. royal mail staff, working shoulder to shoulder in leeds. i'm scared that myjob will be in danger if i refuse to do a task that i believe puts me in an unsafe position. and that's happening, people are being put in unsafe situations? yeah, on a daily basis. at seven royal mail sites, staff have walked out over safety concerns. this is didcot in oxfordshire. similar scenes, too, in southampton.

there are reports daily about the unavailability of masks and gloves, wipes, and i think that equipment really does need to get to the frontline quicker. an estimated 20% of postal staff are thought to be off work. that equates to 26,000 postmen and women who are either sick or self—isolating. that, of course, puts increased pressure on those who can work at a time when the number of parcel deliveries has soared. unions say it's been busier than christmas. one postman told us royal mail has been slow to act. when this was all kicking off and you could see where this was going, we were saying, "we need this stuff." but our big boss upstairs just said, "no, you just need to wash your hands." i'd love to wash my hands, but nowhere's open, ever — it's ridiculous. the company says it has invested heavily in protective equipment. i don't think we've been slow,

we've moved as quickly as we possibly could to get supplies to our people that they need. this will help them stay safe. and we've spent way over £15 million now making sure people have got appropriate protection. they are the frontline staff keeping the uk connected. but our posties are feeling the strain. sarah corker, bbc news. 23 minutes past 3pm. now, the issue we can would usually be the perfect opportunity for a day trip, perhaps toa opportunity for a day trip, perhaps to a national trust property or garden. but the message from the national trust is stay—at—home this weekend. instead, they have come up with some ideas to help keep people busy over the long bank holiday. let's discuss what some of those ideas might be. jessica monaghan joins me from the national trust. good afternoon. quite a tall order,

managing to condense your number of properties or beautiful parks and gardens into something we can all do at home, so what have you come up with? yes, it is. well, we know that our supporters and visitors coming to our places at eastern is tradition for lots of families and people across the country. so on our website, we got all sorts of things that you could do, from eastern baking ideas to access to our collections and podcasts about our collections and podcasts about our collections to garden tips. this time of year is an amazing time of yearfor time of year is an amazing time of year for gardening. time of year is an amazing time of yearfor gardening. but also time of year is an amazing time of year for gardening. but also we have worked with our members to create the great eastern scavenger hunt that all the family can do together, at home, staying safe this eastern. so that is a scavenger hunt based online, a machining. it's that how it works? yes, you can find it on social media channels are you can go to our website and download it and get something fun to do with the

family while you can't get out and see places this weekend. because it's not safe to do so. but you can still find inspiration in the objects around you are in the science of nature and spring in your own garden and in your own home. and what about the people who don't have a garden and don't have any outside space because those are the people for whom this period is absolutely the toughest. it is a really big ask to ask people to stay inside who don't have access perhaps even to a balcony. so is there much that you can help in that regard? yes, actually, the scavenger hunt has been designed so that people don't have to leave their home to do it and there are all sorts of activities and therefore making eastern treats to finding objects in your house to decorating and crafting that you can do together, whether you've got access to an outside space or not. so, yes, we deliberately design something that we hope will be available,

accessible and fun for as many people as possible. and throughout all of this, are some of yourself still able to work because gardens still able to work because gardens still have to be looked after, houses have to be looked after and creamed. are you able to maintain your extensive network to the best of your ability? yes, we are still continuing to do the essential work caring for our places because it is really important to us and we know it is really important to our members that those places are still available and we are able to open them so that we can come back and a feature which is something that we are feature which is something that we a re really feature which is something that we are really looking forward to and something that members have told us it's really important to them, so thatis it's really important to them, so that is something that we will be continuing to do and we really look forward to be able to welcome people again in future. absolutely. thank you very much. had a good eastern. thank you very much indeed. once every ten years, a bavarian village puts on a world famous passion play.

it isa puts on a world famous passion play. it is a tradition stretching back to the 17th century, when villagers believed it would protect them against the plague. well, now the coronavirus outbreak means the play has had to be postponed for two yea rs. has had to be postponed for two years. our berlin because despondent jenny hail has more. it should have been the performance of the decade. rehearsals well under way for one of the world's most famous religious productions. opening night wasjust weeks away and coronavirus brought the curtain down. it is always a very special year, the passion play year. it was getting closer and suddenly everything has stopped and i think that is really hard for a lot of people.

in oberammergau, i think it is a close community because generations come together. it is 400 years since the people of this bavarian village made a promise. they put on a passion play. in return, they hoped god would protect them from the plague. they have been doing it ever since. once every ten years, the village faithfully re—enacts the life, death and resurrection of christ. legend has it the play saved oberammergau from the black death. little protection now it seems against a modern virus. it is a kind of a grey fog that lays all over every life, every action, everything we do. with stopping or bringing the passion play two years later on stage, and the fact of the corona crisis, we miss 10 million euros. costumes, props, in storage now. the play itself is insured but local businesses depend on the visitors. oberammergau is in lockdown. the production postponed until 2022.

people think about the meaning of life, i have the feeling there are a lot of answers also in the passion play itself. it is about jesus talking about the poor. he is talking about diseases and about war. those sentences we had in the rehearsals, i think they have a different meaning when we will bring it on stage in two years. in this, the bleakest of times, faith and hope. jenny hill, bbc news, berlin. as we move into the weather prospects, we are going to move to our helicopter. it has been flying

over our helicopter. it has been flying over primrose hail, regent's park, that whole area. if you happen to know london. someone has helpfully reminded someone to stay away from each other unless you are members of one household, of course. and as we have been reflecting throughout the day, there is a very strong message from government this very sunny eastern bank holiday weekend. don't go out above and beyond the restrictions. you can go out for for chopping, for medicines, to help someone who is vulnerable and you can go out once per day for exercise. so you have to assume that all of those people are doing their once per day by at exercise. we have been watching these shots from the helicopter over the past few minutes and certainly the region's park that we we re and certainly the region's park that we were looking at is not super crowded, which is good news. that is exactly what the police and what government will want to see. have course, what we are not