new york starts to bury some of the deadin new york starts to bury some of the dead in mass graves. the city tries to deal with a rapidly growing number of deceased. the state now has more coronavirus cases than any single country. the latest figures recorded over 7000 people have died from the virus. uk records its highest daily death toll so far, almost a thousand more people have died. it comes as a british government has asked the to stay home amid fears the easter weekend, combined with warm weather, will see some people ignore the stay—at—home policy. and many charities have had to stop their work and reduce support for large numbers of vulnerable people. the british red cross says there are thousands of refugees and asylum seekers living in poverty in the uk, in calais in france, any migrants remain in makeshift camps hoping to cross into the united kingdom.

and now, it is time for coronavirus, what you need to know. hello and welcome to this bbc news special. i'm victoria derbyshire. annita mcveigh. stay with us over the next half—an—hour as we share the next half—an—hour as we share the latest information on the coronavirus outbreak. we take you into an intensive care hospital in london to show you what doctors are confronted with as they face cases with severe coronavirus. plus, chris morris of the bbc‘s reality check tea m morris of the bbc‘s reality check team bust more of the myths that have sprung up around the virus. and a reminder that there is further advice, news and information about coronavirus in your area on the bbc news website. but first, the

dramatic spread of the pandemic has put health services under immense pressure through the sheer scale of people requiring specialist treatment. 0ur medical correspondent fergus walsh and cameraman adam walker got exclusive access to one intensive care ward in university couegein intensive care ward in university college in central london to give us this rare insight into what health professionals a re this rare insight into what health professionals are having to face on a daily basis. it is completely unimaginable. this is the front—line. unimaginable. this is the front-line. apart from two patients, every patient we are looking after has covert. we can't cope with a big spike, wejust has covert. we can't cope with a big spike, we just cannot. has covert. we can't cope with a big spike, wejust cannot. every has covert. we can't cope with a big spike, we just cannot. every day, battles are won and some are lost. all the patient‘s year are critically ill. we are planning for

many more patients, all of our feeders to be full of patients and possibly beyond. it is... none of us have seen anything like this. this used to be a recovery area for patients after surgery, now, used to be a recovery area for patients aftersurgery, now, it used to be a recovery area for patients after surgery, now, it is an intensive care unit for covid—19 patients. this a huge part of the hospital has been transformed in order to deal with coronavirus. i've been in intensive ca re coronavirus. i've been in intensive care nursing for about 23 years now and i've never seen anything like this. even the london bombings. i've never seen this. even the london bombings. i've never seen it in such a short, condensed period of time. many of the patients here are elderly or have underlying health problems but not all. i think perhaps, i was a bit naive when we started stop i assumed it would be the older and sicker. and here, we have a mixture of people from their 40s, in the 70s. of people from their 40s, in the 705. a of people from their 40s, in the 70s. a lot of them have high blood pressure and diabetes or a bit of

respiratory disease. but, some of them are coming through who are young and fit. the patient's year have severe pneumonia, inflammation of the logs. they must be heavily sedated while on a ventilator, a machine that takes over their breathing. patients cannot spend two weeks like this. many drugs are being tested but there is, as yet, no proven treatment for coronavirus. it is oxygen and organ support and amazing nursing care. one thing that does help is turning the patients on to their fronts. it increases the oxygen getting into their lungs. what seems like a simple procedure ta kes what seems like a simple procedure takes time. and lots of pairs of hands. with ventilated patients, extreme care is needed. all of this

while staff wear full personal protective equipment. their only barrier against coronavirus. every timea barrier against coronavirus. every time a doctor or a nurse goes onto the unit, they must don full safety gear. you can't wear the at work for more than a couple of hours because you get a crushing headache. you get dry mouth, you have to get out. staff right their names on their aprons so they can be quickly identified. there is an emergency here, the head of critical care was seeing by a walkie—talkie whether he could give a second opinion. but he needs to be there. so, the full kit has to be put on. they use walkie—talkies because their advisers mean they can't communicate on phones. it is straining, physically and mentally. it's a bit

ha rd physically and mentally. it's a bit hard and some of our staff can't really cope with it. we have got huge numbers of nurses, dock is and physios and not all of them can deal with it that they can only spend a short time or notjust any time. it is not uncommon for some of our staff to have panic attacks and just finding it so, so stressful. you got to really support people. some people just can't do it. despite the possible risk to themselves, the medical staff carry on, 12 hour shifts, 60 hours a week is the norm. they worry about the patients, about each other and about those they love. i think it is very hard on our families. my kids are at home, my wife is homeschooling. it's easy for me, doing myjob, busy all day. they don't really know what it is like you, whether we are bringing home the virus. and they've just been amazing, let me do what i need to do and i'm incredibly grateful to them.

what is striking here is the sense of calm in the face of adversity. doctors and nurses simply get on with the job the staff doing with the biggest challenge ever faced by the biggest challenge ever faced by the nhs. they can say many of the patients but sadly not all of them. and still, more patients keep coming every day. and no—one is sure how long this will last, for now, they can cope. but that depends on all of us can cope. but that depends on all of us playing our part. what is your message to people watching or listening to this? if people don't stay at home and they sneak out, this is going to continue to happen and our staff are going to be exposed for longer stop are not going to have the equipment to do the best we can buy everybody who needs it. we do need to flatten the curve and it is so serious and i just wish people would really listen

to what the government and we have been saying. it is harrowing to see the devastation caused by coronavirus and humbling to witness the resilience of nurses and doctors. the heroes of this crisis. thislj didn't the heroes of this crisis. this” didn't take this seriously enough. imran isjust 37 and has breathing difficulties due to the virus. you don't know how bad it is until it actually hits you and so, i would absolutely urge everybody to listen to the government guidance and stay away from people. he has a wife and two children. everything to fight for. i have felt times where my body has been willing to just give up com pletely has been willing to just give up

completely and i'm not, i'm a very young and fit individual. from the moment patients arrive at a&e, nurses and doctors face the risk of infection. i do worry about my staff because they are being exposed to patients who have a dangerous disease. the manager out of the hospital throughout this crisis leads from the front. i'm a doctor myself. i work in a&e with coronavirus patients. i'm also anxious. 0n the other hand, we are all professionals, we know how to protect ourselves and we know the risk. so we can deal with this. the biggest transformation has been in intensive and high dependency care where the number of beds has increased fivefold with plans for even more. but will it be enough and can they cope with the surge? all of those questions are really critical. they depend on people, the kids, and oxygen. we got enough people, that

is difficult stop we had a lot of stuff go. we've currently got enough oxygen. 0ur stuff go. we've currently got enough oxygen. our current problem today is having an enough itu grade type insulators. if you are purple, you're a confirmed coronavirus case. orange, you're suspected... the very sickest patients will need a ventilator to pray for them. if you look at the itu, there are two non— corona patients, both of them longer stay, weaning off ventilator slowly and the rest has been taken over by corona. we got another hospital that is doing urgent cancer but this place has essentially become a huge corona centre. everyone going into intensive care must wear full reductive clothing. beds have been created in every available space. so this is an anaesthetic room attached to an operating theatre. and just look inside here. this operating

theatre has now been repurposed for two intensive ca re theatre has now been repurposed for two intensive care beds. i mean, it is actually rather overwhelming because it just is actually rather overwhelming because itjust reinforces the level of threat and reparations that are going on here. and just what we are facing. it is the same layout in ten operating theatres, leaving just to make for emergency surgery. —— two. all hospital visits have been stopped, only in exceptional circumstances might a family member ofa circumstances might a family member of a very sick patient be admitted. it is the personal cost of what is happening to patients. it is this devastating sometimes. it is really ha rd devastating sometimes. it is really hard because we can't let all of the relatives into see their loved ones. so while the patients may not be aware, the relatives are really feeling it. like all of us, the doctors and nurses wonder when life

will return to normal. certainly my family, we got a holiday booked in august. we've said that as a date andi august. we've said that as a date and i don't know if that is a realistic thing. like everybody in the country, in some ways, i've got ajob, the country, in some ways, i've got a job, getting an income. i the country, in some ways, i've got ajob, getting an income. i know that i'm not suffering like a lot of people. our country is suffering here. and the whole country knows it owes a n here. and the whole country knows it owes an immense debt to nhs frontline staff, putting themselves at risk from coronavirus day after day to save lives. that report by our medical correspondent fergus walsh with cameraman and walker. next, it's becoming clear that widespread testing for coronavirus is going to be crucial as countries try to navigate their way out of the crisis. but there is confusion about what that means and how that might be achieved asjim reed reports. most scientists agree that testing for this virus is critical. part of

the way that we can save lives and break out of a lockdown. we have a simple message for all countries, test, test, test. there are two main types of test for coronavirus. the moment, we're using called a pcr test, normally taken with a swab, they look for genetic material related to the virus. you're asking the question, does that person have the question, does that person have the virus in the system at the time of the test? it detects the genome of the test? it detects the genome of the test? it detects the genome of the virus itself. gratuitous and can tell if somebody currently has the virus, crucial for both patients and healthcare workers. but it needs to be analysed in a laboratory, ta kes to be analysed in a laboratory, takes time and is expensive. it needs skilled staff and chemicals called reagents which are in short supply. that is one reason why many countries have struggled to increase testing rates. some, like south korea, have moved much faster than others. testing, along with

infection tracking, is partly how it's managed to keep deaths at a low level. translation: we set this up as an alternative where many people can get tested in a short space of time. the second type of test looks for antibodies in blood. this is much faster, just needs a prick of blood that can either be sent off in the post or even analyse that home. the antibody testing reveals who has been exposed and who has gained an immune response of the virus. it is a pretty good guess as to whether a person may already be immune to this virus. and antibody test is cheap and does not need a laboratory to process the results but does not work straightaway. it can take weeks after infection to produce enough antibodies to measure and there are real questions about the accuracy of the tests produced so far. if we can prove they work though, there are clear advantages. it will allow us to test healthca re clear advantages. it will allow us to test healthcare workers and their families to see indeed if they have

had a covert infection —— covid infection. that will allow a lot of helpful care workers to return to the front line. another topic is the use of some kind of covid—i9 passport which says you have the infection and can now return to work more generally. the idea is an immunity passport might let someone leave lockdown if tests show the ready had the disease but it is controversial? is going to open up a lot of ethical issues about will be create a two tiered group of society, one be able to work on the other not. we've already been accused of in the media today of a type of police state. there is an awful lot of societal ramifications to how this can be used. there is a third type of test which can detect an ongoing coronavirus infection rather than all the expensive lab work, they should be far cheaper and quicker, based on a nasal swab or

saliva swab stock that could be critical in parts of the world that may not have testing facilities. we expect some companies may be able to deliver a rapid test and that would bea deliver a rapid test and that would be a game—changer. if after ten minutes we could identify a large proportion of people infected. the next step is to prove these tests can work effectively and quickly. it is not one but a combination of technology which could keep the virus in check until is developed. one of the latest countries to advise people to wear masks or cover their faces is that the us. advise people to wear masks or cover theirfaces is that the us. despite guidance from experts at who medical masks should be reserved for healthcare professionals are not used by the general public. israel, indonesia and morocco are now amongst countries that have made wearing a face mask in public compulsory. the bbc science editor

is being looking at our effective they can be. computer simulation of someone coughing. this is new research still to be confirmed that shows how coronavirus can spread and linger into the air, infecting people nearby. the scientists involved say the obvious conclusion is to avoid places that might be busy. do not go there you do not need to go there. if you need to go there, go there only as briefly as possible and number three, stay there is a short time as possible. if someone is showing symptoms, they should not be going to a supermarket or anywhere else but there is growing evidence that people can have the virus and not show symptoms and that is 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. in morocco, for example, there is now a

government order to wear masks with the threat of prison or find to back that up. by the world health organization and the british government believe that measures like this just government believe that measures like thisjust are government believe that measures like this just are not needed. here in the uk, the guidance is that it is healthcare workers and carers who should wear masks 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 amongst scientists stop monies that if you wear a mask 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 stop you might think you might 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. you cannot decide to ta ke consistent. you cannot decide to take it off to smoke a cigarette or eat a meal. it must be wonderful time. at the same time, when a mask

is taken off, the outside surface might be contaminated as well and that could serve as a source of infection. more and more countries are demanding that people wear masks. in indonesia, they are handing them out stop the italian region of tuscany, it is getting up deliveries because everyone will have to wear one. attitudes are changing fast. head to cape town where an unprecedented truce has broken out. as south africa tries to contain the spread of coronavirus. gang leaders have halted is that turf was interned turned their delivery networks, usually use for drug trafficking to get food to poor households instead. these are some of the most dangerous streets in south africa and the world. poor

communities fought over relentlessly by rival gangs. today, a virus and a nationwide lockdown may have achieved what the police and the army have failed to do. this is the america gang turf. most of these men have been injail america gang turf. most of these men have been in jail and america gang turf. most of these men have been injail and some are killers. today they are backing up supplies for hungry families.” killers. today they are backing up supplies for hungry families. i got a phone call from two different gang leaders asking for help. if they are struggling, the rest of the community will be in serious strife. to help, the goings are drawing on that particular skill sets. they are the best distributors in the country. they use a distributing other white powers but still, they are distributing things and they know everybody. what does the community think of the change of

focus? there is relief that a gang ceasefire has taken hold during the lockdown. we help each other, even gangs, gangsters. in these times, all of us stay together. but it is ha rd to all of us stay together. but it is hard to tell what people here really think about the men who have terrorised that neighbourhoods for decades. the authorities are sceptical. i do not think it exonerates you when you've done some achievable that one good deed suddenly wipes it all away. maybe if they commit to slightly more long—term, stop intimidating and rubbing residence, maybe they could. because of the lockdown, our government and producer are in johannesburg. two gang leaders agreed to talk over the phone. do

you think south africa, your community, will be changed by this experience? yes, it may well. there must be peace. that is what is happening now? yes. will that last? maybe, maybe not. so once the virus is over may the fighting will start again. maybe, maybe go away. a temporary ceasefire, a temporary lockdown and just the sliver of a chance that the virus will bring lasting change to some of the most dangerous streets in the world. finally, throughout our series, we have been hearing from chris morris and the bbc reality check team who have been missed lasting some of the treatments. —— myth busting. separating fact from fiction is important. here are some more myths

should be aware of. lemonjuice protects you from covid—i9. they have been plenty of claims about things you should need or drink to fight to run the lemon juice myth just will not go away. it started with a viral social media post containing advice from a fake chinese scientist. to be clear, lemonjuice is obviously chinese scientist. to be clear, lemon juice is obviously not bad for you and in fact all fruit and vegeta bles you and in fact all fruit and vegetables are essential when nearly all of us have to stay at home. but they do not stop you getting a virus like this. myth number two, mosquito bites can infect you with the virus. we all know you can get other diseases from mosquito bite but there is no evidence at all that little roots can infect you with coronavirus. remember, this is a respiratory virus spread mainly with someone who is ill coughs or sneezes and the best way to protect yourself

is to avoid close contact with anyone who is sick and keep washing your hands. myth number three, blood donations will get you a free test. some people are hoping they might get a free coronavirus test if they donate blood. that is absolutely not the case. there has been a persistent false belief on social media that it might. typically, you do not get tested for covid—i9 if you give blood. the last thing stop who run blood banks want is sick people coming in nor can you get the virus from a blood donation. try to stay healthy while scientists work towards medical breakthroughs. here are some of the latest striking images from the last few days as the coronavirus continues to affect so many of us.

a reminder you can keep up—to—date with all the latest information on the lockdown in your area and a country on our website and you can contact me on twitter anytime. thank you for watching. hello there. good friday brought temperatures of 25 degrees in parts of cornwall and in jersey. the warmest day of the year so far. i think saturday will be every bit as warm. high pressure not too far away from the british isles, but also areas of low pressure and frontal systems encroaching from the north—west. as these fronts work in, they will bring areas of cloud and some splashes of rain.

so rather a cloudy start for much of scotland and northern ireland. some showers here and there. we see this band of cloud getting down into northern england through the day. so for parts of scotland, for northern ireland, it should brighten up with some sunshine. for north of scotland likely to see cloud and patchy rain, with a brisk breeze as well. the further south you are across england and wales, long spells of sunshine lifting those temperatures. in one or two places, up to 25—26 degrees. and with that warmth, i think we will see some quite isolated but potentially heavy downpours and thunderstorms breaking out, as we go through saturday evening, and into the early hours of sunday. another frontal system will bring cloud and patchy rain back in across scotland and northern ireland, on what will be, well, not a particularly cold night. temperatures typically between 6 and 10 degrees. so for easter sunday, its northern and western parts of the uk that have the greatest chance of seeing some outbreaks of rain. this frontal system here making quite erratic progress in from the north—west. the further south and east you are across england

and wales, still some sunshine. one or two showers again. some warmth to be had here, with temperatures up to around 23 degrees but, with a northerly wind developing across the northern half of the british isles, well, here feeling much, much cooler. and that cooler trend takes us into easter monday. this area of low pressure just slides away southwards. and high pressure builds in from the north. while the wind flow around high pressure is in a clockwise direction and that will pull this much colder air down across the uk. with that, a fair amount of cloud feeding into northern and eastern parts of scotland, down the eastern side of england. the best of the sunshine where you get some shelter from the winds, towards the south—west of england, wales, perhaps parts of northern ireland as well. but that wind will be noticeable, especially for northern and eastern coasts so that's going to make it feel really chilly. seven degrees at best in newcastle and even for cardiff and plymouth, the top temperatures of just 13 degrees.

welcome to bbc news. where focusing on the very latest coronavirus developments nationally and globally. new figures showed the united states has suffered largest one day death toll. according to numbers compiled byjohn hopkins university, 2,108 people died in the past 2a hours. united states has the highest number of cases in the world at nearly half a million. it's also suffered the highest number of deaths. —— almost,

just behind