this is bbc news, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. mass burials in new york signal the toll the coronavirus has taken, even as signs emerge that infections are levelling off. europe is preparing for an easter weekend under quarantine, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing many celebrations to be held in isolation. doctors in the uk have accused the government of a failure to provide frontline medical staff with enough protective equipment. queuing forfood in calais, with no hope of social distancing — we report on the migrants still searching for a better life.

hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. we're focusing on the latest coronavirus developments, nationally and globally. we begin with new figures from the united states, which has suffered its largest one—day death toll. according to numbers compiled byjohns hopkins university, 2,108 people died in the last 24—hour period. the united states has the highest number of cases in the world. it has just passed 500,000. it has also recorded the second highest number of deaths, over 18,700, just behind italy. new york state alone now has more confirmed cases of coronavirus than any single country in the world. the figures come after pictures emerged of a mass grave on hart island in new york city, a place which has long been used for people with no next—of—kin or by families who can't afford a funeral. here is our north america editorjon sopel. it is somehow unimaginable,

unbelievable, that in the most famous city of the richest country in the world, they're digging mass graves for those who can't afford a funeral, and for those who died of coronavirus with no next—of—kin. this is hart island, just off the bronx in new york city. nearly 8,000 people have died in this state alone, and they're struggling to deal with all the burials. we are in total control of our destiny here. what we do will affect literally life and death for hundreds of people. and so many new york hospitals have had to bring these refrigerated lorries in to act as makeshift morgues. the whole healthcare system is creaking. there is an important glimmer of good news, though, and that is the number of people being admitted to hospital is falling sharply. and donald trump, at his briefing today, said he thinks

america may be over the worst. the numbers of beds being used, we were just saying, are substantially reduced. that's usually the sign that it's heading in the downward curve. and he wants to reopen the country for business as soon as possible. i want to get it open as soon as we can. we have to get our country open, jeff. can you say, sir, what metrics you will use to make that decision? the metrics right here. that's my metrics, that's all i can do. on a normal weekend, a tourist venue like the lincoln memorial would be packed with visitors. but america is closed. donald trump hopes to reopen the country on i may, but his medical experts are saying be very cautious. the virus kind of decides whether or not it's going to be appropriate to open or not. so, even though we're in a holiday season, now is no time to back off. as i say so often, now is the time to actually put your foot on the accelerator, because we're going in the right direction. let's keep in that direction. lord, let us come out with a thriving economy...

the president had originally wanted america to reopen for this weekend, with churches packed. but in the oval office today, this was the reality — no crowded pews, just a blessing from a bishop. ..we bless them, and america, in jesus's name. and for nearly all other christians, this unique easter will be online, virtual and socially distanced. but one church that will be open is the biggest anglican cathedral in the us. this new york landmark won't be available for worshippers, though. it's being readied as an additional field hospital. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. countries across europe are beginning an easter weekend under quarantine, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing many celebrations to be held in isolation. italy and spain now have a combined death toll of almost 35,000, while france saw almost 1,000 deaths injust 2a hours. despite the high totals, some countries are experiencing a reduction in daily deaths, and authorities are considering relaxing restrictions. matt graveling reports.

this was meant to be a time of togetherness. instead, worshippers at this good friday service must watch from their windows and doors as a priest walks the empty streets of northern italy. translation: celebrating easter without the faithful, that really leaves a wound in your heart. really, this holy week, which is very popular in our country, has always had a very strong participation of the faithful. today, the churches must be deserted because of the coronavirus. the country confirmed 570 people had died of covid—19 in the past 2a hours — a0 fewer than the day before.

the lockdown here has been extended until 3 may, although some businesses will reopen on tuesday. italy remains one of europe's hardest hit regions, with almost 19,000 dead. spain has now recorded more than 16,000 deaths, but saw their lowest daily death toll for two weeks, with just over 600 people losing their life due to the virus. but, while restrictions kept communities apart, this church near valencia is bringing its congregation together. translation: it is a way not to be alone in church, and for people to feel like they are accompanying me during holy mass every day, by putting their picture on these benches. the health crisis that we're experiencing has made the church have to reinvent itself, and so now, we broadcast the holy mass every day on tv and the internet.

the spanish prime minister has said the country is close to passing the worst of the outbreak, and authorities are preparing to ease some restrictions. countries have received a boost ahead of the easter weekend, with finance ministers allocating 500 billion euros to help resurrect declining economies. this is totally unprecedented. we never, ever reacted so quickly to a crisis as this one. but there is still a lot of work to be done. france recorded almost 1,000 deaths in the past 2a hours, bringing the total death toll there to more than13,000. in ireland, the taoiseach, leo varadkar, has said the current restrictions on movement, which were due to expire on sunday, will remain in place for at least another three weeks. so, while easter services will still be held in isolation

across europe this weekend, as the global death toll exceeds 100,000, a new life after coronavirus may still be some time away. matt graveling, bbc news. here in the uk, some doctors have accused the government of a chronic failure to provide frontline medical staff with enough protective equipment. at the daily briefing, the health secretary insisted a herculean effort is being made to ensure heath workers get supplies. simonjones reports. 0n the frontline in the fight against coronavirus, but the british medical association says staff need more equipment now, and if those treating the disease aren't appropriately protected, the nhs faces a disaster. the government insists more than 700 million pieces of protective gear have already been delivered. this is already been delivered. this is a herculean logistical effort. we have brought together the nhs, private industry and the army, in fact, the armed forces, to create a giant ppe

distribution network on an unprecedented scale. that network is now delivering daily to our frontline heroes. network is now delivering daily to ourfrontline heroes. every nhs hospital has received a delivery of critical ppe once every 72 hours, and over the next week, we are making that daily. the latest daily death toll has risen by a record 980 people. that is higher than spain and italy's worst days, and that number does not include people who have died from coronavirus in care homes 01’ from coronavirus in care homes or in the community. it brings the total number of deaths in hospital in the uk to 8958. one of those to lose their life is this east london doctor. he had raised concerns on social media about the lack of personal protective equipment. he was a courageous, brave man, and he saw that nhs workers didn't have enough ppe, and he made an effort for that, and maybe at

the time it didn't get the recognition it deserves, but 110w recognition it deserves, but now for time we are getting the recognition it deserves and we're not going to stop. the british medical association says doctor chowdhury is one of 11 doctors who have died. the chief nursing officer wouldn't confirm numbers, saying she would need the permission of theirfamilies to would need the permission of their families to talk about them. some hope, though, is being taken from this graph, showing the number of patients in critical care oak is comic appears to be beginning to plateau. but it comes with this morning. we are in a dangerous phase still, and i need to reinforce that again to you, that this is not over. that's why once again there are pleas for people to stay at home this weekend, with another warm and sunny day forecast. 0n the beachin sunny day forecast. 0n the beach in brighton yesterday, somewhere still barbecuing. beach in brighton yesterday, somewhere still barbecuinglj would suggest probably every 50 metres there was somebody trying to sunbathe on the beach. whether inadvertently not understanding that they can't be on the beach, or rather they should be, we are having to explain to people that one person being down

here, it sets a bad example that other people can think they can come down as well. 0verall, they can come down as well. overall, though, people do seem to be staying at home. this was the scene in scarborough. keswick also resembled a ghost town, and patrols at this park in birmingham were insuring people stuck to social distancing. you aren't walking around, but staying stationary. are you from the same household, or... but the government admits that this easter will be a test of the nation's resolve, with no end to the lockdown insight. the british red cross says there are thousands of refugees and asylum seekers living in poverty in the uk, and in calais in france, many migrants remain in makeshift camps hoping to cross to the uk. the bbc‘s fergal keane reports on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting those who have fled persecution or poverty. they look like scenes from the world before the coronavirus. but we filmed these

crowds nearly three weeks into the french government's lockdown. no social distance for the migrants of calais. good morning. bonjour. bonjour, salut — coffee. try to wash your hands sometimes! no hot food, either — a sandwich given by the state the sole meal of the day for hundreds. this camp is on the edge of an industrial estate, about a mile from calais. it might as well be on another planet. and how difficult is it for you here? french volunteers help here every day. have some pity, have some... you wouldn't do this to a dog, would you?

so you're doing it to human beings who are fleeing the war. i'm ashamed. i can't sleep at night. i'm — i'm sick of this, you see? these are people, and they've suffered. they're not criminals — they're the opposite. they've been raped, they've been assaulted, they've been ra nsomed, they've been tortured. everybody here wants to get to britain. even under lockdown, it seems a better prospect. i'm on a journey through migrant experiences in calais and in london, and for people who were already living on the margins, the arrival of the coronavirus has been nothing short of catastrophic. but suppose they do make it here. migrants will find an asylum system already backlogged, and struggling with the the impact of the virus.

0ne undocumented migrant from africa told us she'd survived on odd jobs and help from friends. we've voiced her words to protect their identity. we're desperate. we have no way of paying rent. can't get anywhere. there are no places offering accommodation, no—one giving you money to buy groceries. food banks are closed. in calais now, there are many migrants, a lot of them from africa, who want to get here. what would you say to them? i would tell the migrants in calais not to think it gets easier, not to have that much hope. just because you're not in the camp doesn't mean that you are going to be treated human, or it's just the same circumstances, different setting. even if they can start the asylum process, new arrivals won't get more than about £5.40 a day to buy necessities.

is there anything in there which you think they'd like more of that? a few food banks still operate. this british red cross centre in north london opens twice a week for all who are hungry. abdul is an asylum seeker from north africa. i have a daughter and i have a wife, once worked for restaurant. yes, i'm struggling, that's why i'm coming here, you know? my family doesn't have food at home, that's the thing. this centre is a lifeline for those who are surviving with very few resources. and, while this is a charity, the workers here do their level best to make it feel about sharing — living up to the larger rhetoric of unity, of compassion, in these desperate times. the world is consumed with fear of sickness and economic crisis. hard times on the margins, getting much harder. fergal keane, bbc news. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines: mass burials in new york signal the toll the coronavirus outbreak has ta ken, and across america, there are now more

than 500,000 cases. doctors in the uk have accused the government of a failure to provide frontline medical staff with enough protective equipment. it's becoming clear that widespread testing for coronavirus is going to be crucial as countries around the world try to navigate their way out of the crisis. but policies differ, and there's confusion about what that means and how it might be achieved, as jim reed reports. most scientists agree that testing for this vorus —— most scientists agree that testing for this virus is crucial — part of the way we can get out of lockdown and resume normal life. we have a simple message for all countries — test, test, test. there are two main types of test for coronavirus. at the moment, we are using something called a pcr test. normally taken with a swab, these are for genetic material related to the virus. —— normally taken with a swab, these look for genetic material related to the virus. you're asking the question does that person have the virus

in their system at the time of the test? so it detects the rna genome of the virus itself. so pcr testing can tell if someone currently has the virus — crucial for both patients and healthcare workers. but it needs to be analysed in a laboratory. that takes time and is expensive. it needs skilled staff and chemicals called reagents, which are in short supply. that's 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've 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. itjust needs a prick of blood that can either be sent off in the post or even analysed at home. so the antibody testing reveals who's been exposed and who has mounted an immune response to the virus.

so it's a pretty good guess as to whether a person may already be immune to the virus. an antibody test is cheap and does not need a laboratory to process the results, but does not work straight away. 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 healthcare workers and their families to see if, indeed, they have had a covid infection. and that might allow a lot of healthcare workers to return to the front line. another topic that has been widely discussed is the use of a covid—19 passport that says you had the infection and can now return to work more generally. the idea is an immunity passport might let some leave lockdown if tests show that they've already had the disease. but it is controversial. it's going to open up a lot of ethical issues about whether it will create a two—tiered society, with some being able to go back

to work and some not. we've already been accused of, in the media today, of a sort of police state. there's an awful lot of societal ramifications about how this is going to be used. there is a third type of test which firms are developing. rapid antigen tests can detect an ongoing coronavirus infection. but rather than all the expensive lab work needed for a pcr test, these should be far cheaper and quicker, based on a nasal swab or saliva sample. that could be critical in parts of the world that might not have advanced testing facilities. we might expect that some companies will be able to deliver a rapid test for a pound or two. that would really be a game changer, especially in low—resource settings if, after ten minutes, we could identify a large proportion of those who are infected. the next step is to prove these tests can work effectively and quickly. it's not one but the combination of all of these technologies that can perhaps

help us keep the virus in check until a vaccine is developed. jim reed reporting there. there's no doubt that pandemic has pushed people and technology to the limit. but it's also inspired innovation — new ideas and new solutions to some old problems. the bbc‘s tim allman explains. in the age of coronavirus, help can come in all shapes and sizes. this is an isolation capsule, the brainchild of the peruvian air force. the idea is simple. you can transport people within a hospital, but you avoid any risk of spreading the virus. translation: patients often had to be moved from one place to another. they may be in intensive care and they may need some tests, such as a scan. that transfer can be done in this capsule. scientists in uruguay have developed a new type of ventilator. they say it is affordable,

easy to make and, crucially, patent—free — that means any person or company can build one, hopefully easing the strain on the country's health system. translation: we are definitely pleased with our work. it is really fulfilling to have contributed, even in a small way. we hope they will not be needed. if they are, we have made a positive contribution. there are new inventions, but also new uses for existing technology. these vending machines popping up on the streets of poland do not sell chocolate orfizzy drink. they provide face masks, gloves and hand sanitiser — vital, necessary equipment in the world under lockdown. and here, in the glamorous french city of cannes, they are using drones to disinfect the streets. any advantages technology can bring is being embraced. tim allman, bbc news.

well, embracing improvisation has become central to survival in life under lockdown. for some, that extends not only to how they live and work, but also where they do it. for one pr executive in the english city of birmingham, it's meant moving back in with her parents and turning a campervan in their driveway into a makeshift office. i've got underline of issues, i have got asthma, so, you know, it isa have got asthma, so, you know, it is a bit, living on my own, it is a bit, living on my own, it is a bit, living on my own, it isa it is a bit, living on my own, it is a bit, living on my own, it is a bit ofa it is a bit, living on my own, it is a bit of a worry, wondering what could potentially happen if i was to fall ill. so being with my pa rents fall ill. so being with my parents seemed to be the best option. when coronavirus struck the uk, chloe baker decided to quarantine herself and move backin quarantine herself and move back in with her parents and their campervan in the driveway became the marketing manager's dedicated workspace. they have the house but i did not want to interrupt their day—to—day

lives and the campervan was sat on the driver. she gave me a tour of her office via video call. show us how it works. sorry. it's a bit small, yeah, i usually have two screens at work, it is really helpful to be able to have it set up like i would in the office. it has got its own little heating system and a little radio and it is really cosy, so it is ideal, really. there is the sink. there is a tiny little oven. and a little fridge down there as well, and it is even got its own bathroom! with the white, chemical toilet? got its own bathroom! with the white, chemicaltoilet? yeah, and a little shower. so how long might you spend there every day? nowl am long might you spend there every day? now i am working here monday to friday doing long days, that having a regular break and, yeah, it seems to be working out 0k!m that i drive you mad? it is a long time to be in a small space. my mum has come and joined me a couple of times and

just read a book in here because it is quite quiet in here and we have audis at work we have to check in with every day and even if it takes half—an—hour or an hour out of your day it is really worth doing, just you have that bit of human contact. dougal shaw, bbc news. great stuff. the republic of ireland is to extend its covid—19 restrictions for a further three weeks until 5 may. the irish prime minister leo varadkar made the announcement on friday afternoon following a meeting of the national public health emergency team. irish police have set up more than 1,000 checkpoints in recent days to stop people breaking restrictions. a reminder of our main news. the number of confirmed deaths from coronavirus around the world has now passed 100,000. the united states has become the first country to report more than 2,000 deaths from coronavirus in one day. figures from johns hopkins university say 2,108 people have died in the past 2a hours. the us is now the country with the second highest number

of deaths, only just behind italy. meanwhile, the world health organization has warned governments to be cautious about lifting restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus. economies have been crippled by lockdowns, but the head of the who says a premature relaxation could be dangerous. meanwhile, healthcare workers at mount sinai hospital in new york city have held a vigil for their colleagues who died from coronavirus. the world health organization has warned governments to be cautious about lifting restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus. that is just about it from us for now. you can find out more about the pandemic on our website. and on that is also news of the british prime minister and his condition and how president trump plans to support coronavirus hotspots in the us. thank you for watching

and to stay tuned to adhere to bbc news. —— do stay tuned right here. hello there. good friday brought temperatures of 25 degrees in parts of cornwall and injersey — the warmest day of the year so far. i think saturday will be every bit as warm. high pressure not 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 be bringing 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. far north of scotland is 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, it's 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 — 7 degrees at best in newcastle and even for cardiff and plymouth, the top temperatures of just 13 degrees.

this is bbc news. the headlines: new york starts to bury some of the dead in a mass grave as the city tries to deal with the rapidly growing number of deceased. the state now has more coronavirus cases than any single country. across america, there are now more than 500,000 cases. countries across europe are preparing for an easter weekend under quarantine, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing many celebrations to be held in isolation. italy and spain now have a combined death toll of almost 35,000. despite this, some countries are experiencing a reduction in daily deaths, and authorities are considering relaxing restrictions. some doctors here in the uk have accused the government of a chronic failure to provide frontline medical staff with enough protective equipment. at the daily briefing, the health secretary, matt hancock, insisted a herculean effort is being made to ensure heath