hello and welcome to dateline london. i'm carrie gracie. this week — we have more than a hundred thousand confirmed this is bbc news with the latest coronavirus deaths worldwide. headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world: we're heading towards two million infections. around the globe, billions of people are trapped in physical lockdown doctors in the uk are warning they're still not getting with the imf warning that the impact the protective equipment they need on the world economy could be as bad as the great depression of the 1930s. to treat patients with coronavirus. a mere three months since covid 19 flickered into our field of vision, the government must make sure that it has already brought human suffering on a scale it delivers the equipment which it that is impossible to measure. says it has to the front line. this my guests today? on socially isn't about plans, this is about what will happen in a weak‘s time, distanced screens. this has to be happening now. going catherine pepinster, british commentator on religion and politics. from a business as usual, normal, and american writer relatively low levels of ppe distribution it to the unprecedented and broadcaster jeffrey kofman. level of use of ppe now has been a and here in the studio observing big challenge at we've still got the two metre rule, work to do. the bbc‘s chief international the health secretary also confirms

correspondent lyse doucet. that 19 nhs workers have died since the start of the pandemic. the united states becomes the first country in the world to record more because you're right on religion, it than 2000 coronavirus deaths in a single day. police in the uk urge people to stick to the advice to stay at home over the bank holiday weekend, despite the warm weather in many parts of the country. spain's taylor coronavirus death toll falls for the third day in a i’ow toll falls for the third day in a row to 510. the world health organization that tells countries to be cautious about lifting restrictions too early. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. we're covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally.

first, the uk health secretary, matt hancock, has said there've been cases where medical workers have used more personal protective equipment than they needed as they tackle the coronavirus outbreak. the doctors' union, the british medical association, has said many of its members are still not getting the equipment they need, and staff are being forced into impossible situations. mr hancock also said that 19 nhs workers have now died after catching the coronavirus. it comes as the uk recorded the largest rise over a 24—hour period yesterday, with 980 deaths, higher than both italy's and spain's highest daily death toll. nearly 9,000 people have died in the uk and there are over 70,000 confirmed cases. in the united states, mass burials in new york signal the toll the coronavirus has taken.

over 18,000 people have died in the country, half of those in new york state. europe is preparing for an easter weekend under quarantine with the coronavirus pandemic forcing many celebrations to be held in isolation. in the past hour, the latest figures from spain at show 510 people died in last 2a hours, the lowest rise in several days. and the world health organization has warned of a deadly resurgence of the virus if lockdowns are lifted too early. we'll have more on those stories in a moment, but first on the latest in the uk, our correspondent simonjones reports. on the front line in the fight against coronavirus. but the british medical association says staff need more equipment now, and if those treating the disease are not appropriately protected, the nhs faces a disaster. the government insists more than 700 million pieces of protective gear have 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 front—line heroes. every nhs hospital has received a delivery of critical ppe once every 72 hours, and over the next week, we are making a daily delivery. 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 doesn't include people who've died of coronavirus in care homes or in the community. it brings the total number of deaths in hospital in the uk to 8,958. one of those to lose their lives is east london doctor abdul mabud chowdhury. he had raised concerns on social media about the lack of ppe. he was a brave, courageous man, and that is something he has passed on to us. he saw that nhs workers

didn't have enough ppe and he made the call for that. maybe at the time it didn't get the attention it deserves, but now, for sure, it will get the attention it deserves and we're not going to stop, we aregetting this everywhere. the british medical association says dr chowdhury is one of 11 doctors who have died. the chief nursing officer wouldn't confirm the numbers, saying she would need the permission of theirfamilies to talk about them. some hope is being taken from this graph, showing the number of occasions in critical care appears to be beginning to plateau. but it comes with this warning. 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 easter weekend, with another warm and sunny day forecast. on the beach in brighton yesterday, some were still barbecuing. i would suggest every 50 metres there would be someone trying to sunbathe on the beach. whether that is inadvertently not understanding that they can't be

on the beach, or that they shouldn't be, we are having to explain to people that really, by one person being down, here it sets a bad example, other people think they can then come and take part as well. overall, most people do seem to be staying at home. this was the scene in scarborough. keswick also resembled a ghost town. and patrols in this park in birmingham were ensuring people stuck to social distancing. sitting on the bench, you're all right walking around, but staying stationary... are you from the same household? but the government admits this easter will be a test of the nation's resolve, with no end to the lockdown in sight. the us has become the first country in the world to record more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day. according to numbers compiled byjohns hopkins university, 2108 people died in the last 24—hour period. the united states has the highest number of cases in the world — it's just passed half a million.

it's 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. our north america correspondent david willis has more now on what has been a difficult 2a hours for the country. the united states has seen the deadliest day of coronavirus attacks, or deaths, if you like, that any country has seen so far. more than 2000 people died of the virus today, that brings the total of deaths here to nearly 19,000. 500,000 americans have been infected by the coronavirus and the united states is on track to surpass italy's total of the most number of deaths worldwide. now, more than half of those deaths occurred in new york state, but there

is a glimmer of hope there, because the governor revealed today that the curve appears to be flattening, as they say. the number of hospitalisations there has stabilised. and that's a statistic that donald trump has seized on in his bid to get to this country back in business as quickly as possible. he announced today that he's assembled a taskforce to advise him on that and the trump administration is not downplaying suggestions that this country could be back in action, to some extent, anyway, by the 1st of may. let's return to the situation in the uk, the health secretary, matt hancock, has said there've been cases where medical workers have used more personal protective equipment than they needed as they tackle the coronavirus outbreak. the labour leader, kier starmer, has responded in a tweet, calling the comment insulting to front line

staff. we talk to our political correspondent. this is all within the context of doctors and other front line health workers saying we still don't have the equipment we need? we heard a number of reports are people saying they don't have the necessary personal protective equip they need to on the front line, referring to things like gloves, masks, gowns. matt hancock said yesterday, he outlined his three—point plan for tackling this issue. one of those points of the plan is the talked about ppe being a precious resource that needs to be used in line with guidance and said it should only be used where there is clinical need and people should not use more than is needed. he was asked about this in interviews this morning and said he didn't want to impugn or blame, he said he understood there were difficulties on the front line but were examples where it had perhaps been used where it did not need to be. this is because the a little bit of a backlash, the british medical association saying ppe should not be a precious resource, they're saying

they are front line staff members who do not want to hear talks of another plan, they just who do not want to hear talks of another plan, theyjust want who do not want to hear talks of another plan, they just want the equipment they need to. and kier starmer tweeting that it is insulting to imply front line staff are wasting ppe, there are horrific stories of nhs staff and care workers not have an equipment they need to keep them safe. the government must act to make sure supplies are delivered. one of those points and matt hancock's plan causing a backlash. this was the first critical intervention by kier starmer and a big criticism. going on to something else i need to raise with you, the prime minister, watch epc in now? we have not had an update from downing street, my understanding is that his condition has improved. he was admitted to st thomas' hospital last week showing signs of coronavirus. he was told he did have coronavirus and was taken into intensive care on monday

nights, taking out on thursday nights. we heard on thursday he was continuing to improve, taking short walks in between breaks, so he is still in st thomas' hospital, as we understand. i germany think will get as many updates now his condition is improving, but as i understand, if he is still in hospital and dominic raab are still deputising for him. some breaking news from iran on infections. total number of people infected with the new coronavirus here, 17,029. that is coming from health officials. sorry, i wasjust about to say that i didn't have a figure on debts, but unfortunately, i do. the death toll spikes to 4357 in arana, 125 i do. the death toll spikes to 4357 in arana,125 new i do. the death toll spikes to 4357 in arana, 125 new deaths are. i do. the death toll spikes to 4357 in arana,125 new deaths are. —— in iran. more on that later, but now turning to new figures coming in

from spain. the figures show that 510 people died there and that is the lowest rise for 18 days of taking the total number of test to just over 16,300, according to the spanish health ministry. who's based in madrid. i'm joined now by the journalist james badcock, who's based in madrid. you have been falling this day and day out, it is strange to say any number of deaths is good news, but this is a decline it is strange to set any number of deaths is good news, but this is a decline? it is a remarkably low figure of we consider that, just over a week ago, the number was 950 on the worst day for the death toll. i think there may be a bit of an easter impact in theirs, there may be some paperwork not working through the system as quickly as quickly as other days, but there is still no question that

we have had four weeks out of a com plete we have had four weeks out of a complete lockdown, families at home, home on this quiet easter weekend, no—one going anywhere, and i think spain is taking a bit of a breather today. looks like the worst of what could just be the first wave is definitely over. we have had four weeks of family lockdown, two weeks where no—one has been allowed to go to work except for key workers. that ends after this weekend, and some people worried that perhaps that will have... there's always to late impacts, so next week we will probably have lower figures, the hospitals will continue to clear out their caseload, but perhaps then a week after that, with people going back to work, that will have a negative effect. that is a huge dilemma for everyone, for governments all over the world, how to balance is very difficult judgments. me more, we do have a warning from the world health organization that governments must avoid rushing to lift lockdown is?

exactly. is an incredibly delicate situation and we must also face that there is an economic aspects. and factories, if all workplaces are closed down, revenues are not being made, tax income will not come in later on. the government in spain is paying 70% of the wages of 3 million people who are in temporary lay—offs. there is a very delicate balance, but this case of workers going back to work, there are epidemiologists from committee supposed to advise the government who say that the government did not check with them on this one. so it looks like the government's almost been forced by perhaps the economic elements that it cannot keep up this com plete elements that it cannot keep up this complete lockdown indefinitely. what's important, i suppose, complete lockdown indefinitely. what's important, isuppose, is complete lockdown indefinitely. what's important, i suppose, is that the health service users this time of relative respite to prepare for a

possible future spike, getting better material, protective material in them, and knowing exactly how they will deal with another influx when it arrives. thank you for that update from madrid to. for a look at the situation in germany, i've been speaking to our correspondent in berlin — damien mcguinness. we still have quite high infection rates here, we're talking the international estimates are more than 120,000 of confirmed infected cases. but the death toll remains relatively low compared to other european countries. according to most estimates now, it's a rant about 2700. still a high number, but what we're seeing with both the infection rate and the death toll, assault and flattening of that means is that even though both are still

rising, they're rising at a lower rate than we saw last week. that is a slight glimmer of hope, that is what angela merkel said this week, that she sees the beginnings of a hopeful situation. not quite optimism, but she says that if these numbers keep going down, the new infection rates and the new death rates, then it next week, when she meets with regional leaders from around germany, they will most likely discuss an exit strategy. the way that's going to look, if the numbers continue to look positive over the next number of days, that certain parts of the economy might start getting back to work. that could be schools for older children, going back to part—time, for example, or some restaurants, we have quite stringent restrictions on numbers of people going in. we'll find out more about the next week, and if that is the case, the jeremy's economy gets back to action, that will certainly be a much—needed good news for europe in general. an update on the rest of

the world, and in turkey, to have imposed a 48—hour curfew in provinces of a simple and and ankara to control the spread of the virus. the country has more than 47,000 cases with 1006 deaths. and russia, the number of new cases has slowed, one hundredths —— 167 diagnosed in last 24 hours, and parts of moscow, the mayor has advised new restrictions for residents to obtain special passes to move around the city. brazil has become the first country in the southern hemisphere where more than 1000 people have died of covid—19. but present bolsonaro continues to challenge travel restrictions imposed by brazil's state government. he's urging people to return to work. while health officials protects the country are still some weeks away from its peak and there are concerns

the virus could spiral out of control in poorer areas. turning to south korea, it has announced plans to use electronic response to enforce quarantine measures, aimed at containing the spread of the virus. they claim the move is necessary as many have not observed a government order to stay a home. since the 1st of april, people entering south korea from abroad have been placed under a 14—time mandatory quarantine. it's becoming clear that widespread testing for coronavirus is going to be crucial, as countries try to navigate their way out of this crisis. but policies differ and there is confusion about what the testing means and how it will be achieved. most scientists agree that testing

will be critical. we have a simple message for all countries, test, test, test. two main types of test for coronavirus, at the moment were using something called a pcr test., taken with a swab, these look for genetic material related to the virus. you are asking the question, just as person have the reverse in their system at the time of the test. they test for the rna genome of the virus itself. is a pcr testing can tell someone currently has the virus, crucial for both patients and health care workers. but 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 most to keep death ata partly how it's most to keep death at a low level.

translation: we have set this up as an alternative for many people get us an alternative for many people get us in an alternative for many people get usina an alternative for many people get us in a short space of time. the second type of test looks for antibodies in the blood. this is much faster, just needs a prick of blood that can be sent off in the pro or even analyse at home. the antibody testing reveals who has been exposed and who has a mounted immune response to the virus. is a pretty good guess as to whether a person may already be immune to this virus. and antibody test is cheap and doesn't need a laboratory to process the results, but doesn't wa nt process the results, but doesn't want straightaway. can take weeks after infection to produce enough antibodies to measure. and there are real questions about the accuracy of the tests produce so far. if we can prove they work, though, there are clear advantage. will allow us to test health ca re clear advantage. will allow us to test health care workers and their families to see if they have indeed had a culvert infection, and that might allow a number of health care

infection to return to front line. —— covet maladie infection. the other thing that had been suggested asa other thing that had been suggested as a cover 19 passport that says you have had the infection you can now return to work more generally. promise of of immunity passport could be controversial. it will open ethical issues about where we created a two tier society, 1000 to go back to work, the other is not. we have already been accused in the media today of a police state, so there's not a lot of societal ramifications about how this is going to be used. there is either type of test which firms are developing, rapid antigen test can detect an oncoming 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 survival sample. that could be critical in parts of the world that might not have testing facilities. we might expect that some companies

would be able to deliver a rapid test for a pound or two. that would bea test for a pound or two. that would be a game—changer, especially in lower—resource settings, if we could identify a large proportion of those infected. the next step is to prove these test can work effectively and quickly. but it is a combination of all these technologies that may be able to help us keep the virus in check until a vaccine is developed. south africa's president cyril ramaphosa announced his country's lockdown will be extended for some weeks. there are signs the effort is paying off, but our correspondent reports that it is not yet clear whether the slow ten reported cases is down to the strict measures implemented or whether the virus is just spreading undetected. a stroke locked down here injohannesburg in early hints that south africa may be

on the right track. and here's why, testing for the virus in a poor township. it's several days since the first positive case was confirmed in this neighbourhood and there is a real danger it could spread. were discovered some people in this area and that is why we focus today specifically in this particular area. so far, prompted testing and at the lockdown appear to be working. the daily rate of new infections have it slowed for now to a trickle. social distancing, do not go out to that is what we are asking, spread that message to everybody. this man is friends with a man who tested positive here. he is now waiting to hear his own result to. i'm still afraid, we do not know who are infected and not. he later messages me that his family is in the clear. the lockdown, stricter here than in many nations,

is causing real hardship, but the apparent slowdown of infections has prompted the government to extend it. while it is too early to make a definitive analysis of the progression of the disease in south africa, they are is sufficient evidence to show that the lockdown is indeed working. hand sanitiser, distributed in the dust must make communities. the danger is that the virus may still be spreading undetected in overcrowded neighbourhoods. what are your main concerns about the situation? as you can see, people are crowded very close to each other. low income people, they can't afford sanitisers, that is why we are coming here. as for the messaging about social distancing, it's still getting through to everyone. you

need to go out and have some fresh air. i know, i know. so, two weeks of lockdown now. and south africa does feel like a very different place, the government insist its tough restrictions will bear fruits. but here, and the crowd to townships, you get the sense that not enough yet has changed. and along with that, the knowledge that it's simply far too early to tell in the battle against the virus is being won. the scale and speed of lockdown and quarantines, so the scale and speed of lockdown and quara ntines, so controversial everywhere. i said earlier i would mention iran again, and just to remind you that the confirmed cases in iran, just in single orfew minutes, our 1837 new cases, with 125 new deaths in the past 24 hours.

250,000 covered 19 tests, according to the iranians, so claiming that as a personal success. you are watching bbc news. now, for uk viewers, let's take a look at the easter weekend whether. we're set to see a transition in weather type through the easter weekend. the warrants over recent days replaced by something much cooler, particular by easter monday. but at no wonder, for most prices, largely dry and warm once again. not across sum up france moving on from the north west, light rain times and also high pressure dominating. with the heater boating, we could see isolated thunderstorms in the south later this afternoon. before we get there, lots of sunshine are right about lunch time as the morning

cloud clears from scotland, northern ireland and northern england. temperatures around 15 degrees, further south, altos of 26. the isolated showers we could see later this evening, could be the odd rumble of thunder as well. the game was fate away through the nights, it will be a mild, frost free nights, if you have plans for any gardening on easter sunday. spots of rain in southern scotland and northern ireland. cooler air working and across the northern half of scotland and filtering slowly south. some of this shower is pushing into the fire west of england and wales, but for the bulk of the country, a warm day and dry too. temperatures into the mid 20s in the south, but contrasting to the north, just nine in aberdeen. that trend continues into easter monday. overnight, sunday into monday, that cold front

works its way across, high pressure building in, and this blue air mass showing colder air moving in on monday. you will notice the breeze across the eastern coast of scotland and england, , more across the eastern coast of scotland and england,, more cloud here in the east, whereas further west, blue sky and sunshine. many of us will notice the different feel to the weather with that breeze on the coast and the channel. temperatures much cooler than today and sunday. around 13 degrees on monday. the week sta rts 13 degrees on monday. the week starts fairly cool, not a dry, wa rra nts starts fairly cool, not a dry, warrants later on it but remember to 00:28:40,591 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 stay home wherever you can.